E 
III 

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THE STORY OF 

COLUMBUS AN 
MAGELLAN 




LAWLER 



mm MB ^mamaam 





Christopher Columbus 



The Story of 

Columbus and Magellan 



BY 



THOMAS BONAVENTURE LAWLER, A.M. 

AUTHOR OF " ESSENTIALS OF AMERICAN HISTORY " 



' He gained a wurld; he gave that world 
Its grandest lesso^Hpi^WSail on ! " 

— ToAoni^Wlii.i.KR: "Columbus.' 




GINW ^^OMPANY 

BOSTON . NEW YORlC • CHICAGO • LONDON 




i^ri^o 



Copyright, 1905, Bv 
THOMAS BONAVENTURK LAWLER 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



75-1 



TYHOCiRAFHY BY ThK NORWOOD PRESS, NoRWOOl), MaSS. 



Pkesswokk by The Athen^um Press, Cambkiuge, Mass. 



TO 

ALEXIS EVERETT FRYE 

IN REMEMBRANCE OF HAPPY DAYS 
IN THE ANTILLES 



PREFACE 

The discovery of America by Columbus and 
the passage of Magellan's ship around the globe, 
remarks Guillemard, are the two greatest deeds 
in the history of geography. 

Through these two voyages Spain laid the 
foundation of that wonderful colonial power 
which began at the end of the fifteenth century 
and was destined to pass away at the dawn of 
the twentieth. In this small volume the author 
has tried to picture a few of the stirring events 
of those epoch-making days. 

T. B. L. 

October i8, 1904. 



[vi] 



CONTENTS 



I. The Portuguese Explorers . 

II. Columbus and His Discoveries 

III. Spanish Exploration in America . 

IV. Magellan's Expedition around the Globe 

Pronouncing Vocabulary 

Index 



I 

67 
94 

145 
149 



[vii] 




COLUMBUS AND MAGELLAN 



CHAPTER I 



THE PORTUGUESE EXPLORERS (1394-1580) 

I. Prince Henry. — In early times the Portu- 
guese were the best sailors in Europe. Let us 
see why. Spain had cut them off from the rest 
of Europe, except by water. Their own land lay 
along the coast of the great Atlantic. Thus the 
easiest way to reach other lands was in ships. 

Only a small part of the world was then known. 
The sailors were eager to find new lands. They 
wished also to find a way to reach India in their 
ships. India was the land from which spices 
and silks were sent to Europe. 

Prince Henry was one of the most famous 
sailors of early times. For this reason he was 

[>] 



Columbus and Magellan 



called " Prince Henry the Navigator." He was 
the son of John I, the greatest king of Portugal. 
His mother was Philippa of Lancaster, a sister 
of Henry IV, king of England. 

The prince was born about five hundred years 
ago, in the year 1394. When a young man he 
fought against the Moors of northern Africa. 
There he planned to break the power of the 
Moors, so that he might spread the Christian 
religion over the known world. He wished also 
to increase the trade of his country with the 
people of Africa. So he sent ships to explore 
the coast. 

Since he was the son of a king, Prince Henry 
might have lived at ease in a palace. But he 
chose a life of hard work. On a high cliff facing 
the sea, in the southwest part of his country, he 
founded a school for sailors. He had no printed 
books for them to study, as the printing press 
had not yet been invented. He had no charts to 
show how to sail along the coasts or far out 
to sea. No lighthouses stood along the shores 
to point the way. The compass ^ had been 

^ A simple compass was made as early as the twelfth century. 
A needle was rubbed with a magnet and fastened to a straw so that 

[2] 



The Portuguese Explorers 



known for some time, but sailors still feared to 
steer their ships far from tlie land. 

The good prince taught the men how to sail 
ships, how to guide them by the sun and the 
stars, and how to take care of them in storms. 
He sent ships southward along the coast of 
Africa, but they did not go far, as the sailors 
were afraid to take long voyages. 

There were many reasons for the fears which 
these sailors felt. 

Up to this time men had traveled only over 
the lands or on the rivers or inland seas. The 
great ocean, it was thought, was the home of evil 
spirits and monsters. Whirlpools would sink the 
vessels if they sailed far to the south. On the 
west coast of Africa was a point of land where 
the waters were generally very rough. As there 
were many rocks scattered about in the sea along 
this coast, it was thought that any vessel which 
tried to pass here would be wrecked. The ocean 
current was said to be so strong that no ship 
could sail against it. To this point of land was 

it would float. When* this straw was placed in the water, it turned 
at once to the magnetic pole. For many years captains were afraid 
to use the compass lest they be accused of being in league with evil 
spirits. 

[3] 



Columbus and Magellan 



given the name cape Bojador, which means " out- 
stretched," because it was believed that the rocks 
and currents stretched themselves out here to 
seize any vessels that might try to sail by. South 
of this cape no one could live, the sailors thought. 
There were no people here, no trees, and no grass. 
The ocean was only six feet deep, and even if a 
vessel should pass cape Bojador, it would never 
be able to return home again against the strong 
current. 

Such were a few of the ideas of these days, and 
we need not wonder that the sailors were afraid 
to go on long voyages over the ocean. 

At last in 1434 the spell was broken. A brave 
sailor led his ships beyond this dreaded cape. 
Tlie terrors of the ocean, which had frightened 
the men of Europe and had kept back for cen- 
turies the exploration of the coast of Africa, were 
found to be mere fables. It was Prince Henry 
who urored his sailors ever onward toward the 

O 

south. To him is due the credit of removing 
from men's minds the fears and terrors of the 
ocean. He is, for this reason, called " the father 
of modern geographical discovery." His motto, 
as we see on his coat of arms, was " Desire to Do 

[4] 




Vasco da Gama 
[5] 



Columbus and Magellan 



Well." It is to the honor of the good prince 
that his life was devoted to that object — doing 
well for his people and the world. 

2. Rounding the Cape of Good Hope. — Prince 
Henry died in 1460. The Portuguese sailors 
still crept slowly down the coast of Africa. In 
fact it was not until eleven years after Prince 
Henry's death that they reached the equator. 
They had been told that the waters there were so 
hot that they would all be destroyed. As they 
sailed on before the gentle breezes over the calm 
ocean, they saw none of the terrible things that 
were said to haunt these regions. Thus one by 
one the stories of monsters and dangers were 
proved to be false. The sailors became bolder 
and bolder, and were even anxious to push 
farther southward to see what lands and people 
were to be found there. Above all, they hoped to 
find a passage around Africa, by which their ships 
could go to India and the Spice islands. 

In i486 Bartholomew Di'az reached the south- 
ern point of Africa. It had taken all these years 
to find it, although by following the coast line it 
was only six thousand miles away. Di'az set up 
on the shore a pillar to mark his great discovery. 

[6] 



The Portuguese Explorers 



As his vessels had suffered severely in the storms 
which raged there, he named this southern point 
of Africa the cape of Storms. He now returned 
to Portugal. There was great rejoicing when his 
vessels appeared once more after an absence of 
almost a year and a half. They entered the 
Tagus river and sailed up to the city of Lisbon. 

The king of Portugual received them with 
truly royal greetings. But when Di'az told him 
that he had named the long-sought-for point of 
Africa the cape of Storms, the king shook his 
head. With his pen he changed the name on 
the chart. He called it cape of Good Hope, 
because it opened a water route to India, with the 
promise of riches and prosperity to the kingdom 
of Portugal. 

3. Vasco da Gama discovers a Water Route to 
India. — It was now probable that a route to India 
by water had been found. But the Portuguese, 
instead of sending vessels at once to make the 
journey, allowed ten years to pass in idleness. A 
new king, however, now came to the throne. His 
name was Dom Manoel. He had something of 
Prince Henry's spirit, and at once set to work 
preparing for a voyage of discovery beyond the 

[7] 




o 



I 

f5 






K^ 



W 



The Portuguese Explorers 



cape of Good Hope. One clay he stood at the 
palace window looking out and wondering what 
man in his kingdom would lead to success the 
fleet he was about to fit out for India. 

Just at that moment a nobleman named Vasco 
da Gama came in sight of the window. The 
king believed that some good fortune had sent 
Da Gama there at that moment. He summoned 
him to his presence and offered him command of 
the fleet. Da Gama of course gladly accepted the 
honor. Vessels were at once prepared for the 
long journey. These vessels, four in number, 
were built especially for the voyage and were 
made very strong, as they knew how violent were 
the storms in the southern seas. The fleet sailed 
July 8, 1497. The pilot had been with Di'az 
when the cape of Good Hope was discovered ten 
years before, and therefore knew the way. 

The four vessels crept slowly southward along 
the coast of Africa. They saw cape Bojador, and 
perhaps laughed as they recalled the tales of the 
dangers to be met there. Onward they passed and 
crossed the equator. They saw in the skies the 
famous group of stars called the Southern Cross 
which had first been seen by Europeans only 

[9] 



Columbus and Magellan 



forty-three years before. It was Noveniber when 
Da Gama's fleet reached the southern point of 
Africa. Here his vessels met violent storms and 
for a time were in great danger. Yet he did not 
give up hope, and at last rounded the cape. 
Sailing up the east coast of Africa, he reached on 
Christmas Day (1497) a port where he could get 
shelter. The Portuguese word for Christmas is 
Natal. Therefore they gave to that place the 
name w^iich it bears to this day. 

On this east coast of Africa Da Gama met an 
Arab pilot who led the fleet to India. It was in 
May, 1498, ten months after leaving Lisbon, that 
the fleet, with flags flying and guns booming, 
arrived at Calicut. This is a port on the south- 
western coast of India. At last the long dream 
of Europe was a reality. Portugal now had an 
all- water route to India. 

Let us enter with Da Gama the bazaars of 
Calicut. The beautiful buildings were filled 
with the richest fabrics and most costly spices 
gathered by the Arabs. From all parts of India 
were collected valuable woods inlaid with pearl, 
and cloths embroidered with gold and silver. 
From the Moluccas or Spice islands came cloves, 

[10] 



Columbus and Magellan 



nutmegs, and cinnamon ; the great island of 
Borneo sent camphor ; the highly prized fragrant 
sandalwood was brought from Timor; Sumatra 
furnished gold, while from China came gums, 
silks, and other costly goods. 

The Portuguese looked with longing eyes at 
the wonderful shops with their silks, jewels, and 
spices. They said to themselves, " We must 
become masters of the trade that gives such 
wealth to these people." It was natural that the 
Arabs should dislike to see these Portuguese in 
India. They feared that the visitors would some- 
time take from them this valuable trade of the 
East. Their fears were justified, for it was not 
long before the struggle between the Arabs and 
the Portuguese took place. 

After years of battle the Arabs were defeated, 
and the Portuguese had in their hands the rich 
trade of the East. As a result, Portugal became 
the first of European nations in commerce, and 
its capital, Lisbon, was soon the richest city in 
Europe.. 

The glory of Portugal, however, soon passed 
away. She lost her independence and was united 
to Spain in 1580. For sixty years she was ruled 



The Portuguese Explorers 



by the Spanish Crown. During this time her 
trade with the East was taken from her. Most 
of her lands in the Orient were seized by other 
nations, and the flag of Portugal was no longer 
seen in the waters that it had opened to the ships 
of Europe. 



[T3] 



CHAPTER II 

COLUMBUS AND HIS DISCOVERIES (1446-1492) 

4. Need of New Routes to the Indies. — We 
have already seen how anxious Prince Henry had 
been to increase the trade of his native land, — 



U R 




SOUTHERN nOUTE 

MIDDLE ROUTE -f + + + + 

NORTHERN ROUTE 



Routes of Trade between India and Cities of Southern Europe 

Portugal. He had hoped to do this by finding a 
water route to India. At that time the trade be- 
tween Europe and the East was almost entirely 

[14] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

in the hands of the great Mediterranean cities, 
Genoa and Venice. This eastern trade consisted 
in the exportation of spices, precious stones, 
ivory, silks, and dyestuffs. 

From the map we can see the routes of the 
Genoese and Venetian traders. Genoa had trad- 
ing posts at Constantinople and on the Black sea. 
The commerce of Venice came through the 
Indian ocean and the Red sea. Suddenly these 
cities saw their trade with the East cut off. Let 
us see how this came about. For over one hun- 
dred years a barbaric Tartar tribe, called the 
Turks, had lived in eastern Europe. During a 
still earlier century they had been in Asia Minor. 
This tribe now appeared in arms before the walls 
of Constantinople. After a brief struggle the city 
fell (1453). This shut off the trade route of the 
Genoese through the Black sea to India. 

The Venetians did not succeed much better, as 
their route across Egypt was made almost useless 
from the heavy dues they had to pay for the pas- 
sage of goods. The minds of men were there- 
fore turning more and more to seek new routes 
to the East at the very time that the discoverer 
of America was born. 

[15] 




s 



[i6] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

5. Birthplace and Youth of Columbus. — Genoa, 
the birthplace of Columbus, was, in the middle of 
the fifteenth century, one of the greatest cities 
of Europe. It was the center of the trade of the 
Mediterranean sea. Here lived men who had 
made a life study of the science of sailing ships. 
The best sea charts of that age were drawn here. 
Many of the Christian scholars, who were driven 
out of Constantinople when that city fell, came 
here. The Arabs had taught geography to 
these scholars; they had also told them of the 
wonderful riches of India and the Orient, and 
now western Europe heard these stories from the 
new teachers. Columbus was born about 1446. 
His father was a worker on cloth, and in this 
humble labor the young Columbus spent his 
early youth. At the age of fourteen he went on 
his first voyage, sailing to all parts of the Medi- 
terranean. He was a faithful student, and quickly 
learned how to sail a vessel. In his leisure mo- 
ments he studied geography and history, and 
learned to draw maps. Yet life on the sea at this 
time was not by any means an easy one. 

To seize without right a vessel belonging to 
another is piracy to-day. It was very different 

r 17] 




<3 
O 

S 



[i8] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

in the days of Columbus's youth. The states of 
Italy frequently warred against one another and 
seized each other's ships wherever they met them. 
The Moors sailed back and forth, capturing ves- 
sels, and generally killing the crews or selling 
them into slavery. From some of the provinces 
of Spain, especially from Catalonia, fleets went 
out to capture merchant vessels. There was no 
right on the seas but might, and a vessel was 
obliged to be always on the watch, ready to fight 
its way from one harbor to another. 

For fourteen years Columbus lived this life of 
danger on the sea except when he went to Genoa 
to help his father in making cloth. No doubt at 
this time he began to dream of the great project 
which in later years ruled his life. This project 
was the discovery of new lands to the westward 
and a new route to the Indies. 

In keeping with the spirit of the age Columbus 
was of a deeply religious nature. He hoped to 
secure sufficient money to raise an army and 
rescue the Holy Sepulcher from the Turks. He 
saw little hope, however, of obtaining any aid 
for his scheme in Italy. He therefore set out to 
offer his services to other countries, as so many 

[19] 



Columbus and Magellan 



other Italians have done. Among the most 
famous of these men who brought riches and 
glory to a foreign flag were Cabot, Verrazano, 
and Vespucius. 

6. Columbus in Portugal. — Columbus went to 
the capital of Portugal, — the beautiful city of 
Lisbon. There were good reasons for his selec- 
tion of this city. Here lived many sailors who had 
made long voyages. Ships were ever going and 
coming to and from distant lands. There were 
many map-makers here who knew of all the 
recent discoveries in geography. He believed his 
project would be more favorably looked upon in a 
city where men studied geography, and whence ves- 
sels were being sent out on voyages of discovery. 

Immediately upon his arrival Columbus be- 
gan to earn his bread. He made charts and 
maps. He took cruises along the coast of Africa 
and to the Madeira islands. He even went 
on a long journey to England and Iceland. 
During this time he was studying the reports 
of the early Portuguese voyages. He examined 
carefully the stories of islands that were said to 
be in the Atlantic. 

Some of these stories are full of interest. One 

[ -^o ] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

told of an island named Antilla, which was said 
to have been settled by a king of Spain. This 
king was named Roderick, and he was defeated 
in battle (a.d. 71 i) by the Moors. It was believed 
that after his defeat he fled with many of his 
soldiers to the island named Antilla in the great 
Atlantic ocean. Of course the island did not 
exist, but its name was afterward given to the 
islands of the West Indies. 

This is only an example of many similar 
stories. What led men to believe so firmly in 
them was the fact that the map-makers placed 
these islands on their maps. There they may be 
seen to this day, on the maps and charts that 
were made at that time. It is fortunate, perhaps, 
that this was done. To Columbus they seemed to 
be stepping stones to the great lands of the West. 

While Columbus was still working on the plans 
of a westward journey, he heard of an astronomer 
who lived at Florence, in Italy. This famous 
man was named Toscanelli. Columbus wished 
to know what Toscanelli thought of the project, 
and therefore wrote to him. In a short time 
he received a map and an answer to his letter. 

Toscanelli wrote that he had no doubt that a 

[21] 




[22] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

westward route was the shortest to the rich lands 
of the East and the kingdom of the Great Khan. 
This kingdom, he believed, was less than four 
thousand miles from Portugal. 

Toscanelli in his letter quoted the words of the 
great traveler, Marco Polo, who had visited the 
capital of the Great Khan. This city, according 
to Polo, was very large, its walls being twenty- 
four miles around. There were twelve gates. 
Over each gate was a beautiful palace. The 
streets were wide and the houses large and stately. 
The palace of the Great Khan had lofty walls and 
roofs covered with gold and silver. The stair- 
cases were of marble. The hall was so larsre that 
six thousand persons could at the same time sit 
at table there. Can we wonder that Columbus, 
as he read these words, started with new energy 
to carry out his plans ? 

About this time a book was published which 
led Columbus onward with new hopes. It was 
written in Latin. Its title in English was " The 
Image of the World." This work gave the ideas 
on geography of great men, even from the early 
days of Greece. It showed that there was no 
doubt in the minds of most of these men that Asia 

[23] 



Columbus and Magellan 



was directly opposite Europe. Columbus studied 
this book day and night, and often wrote his own 
opinion on the side of the page. In Seville to- 
day this work is shown with the notes made by 
the discoverer's own hand. 

At last his charts were finished, and Columbus 
wrote out his reasons for the belief in a westward 
route across the great Atlantic. He sought the 
king of Portugal and laid his plans before him. 
The king listened with great interest. Columbus 
showed him that the idea of the world being round 
was not a new one. For two thousand years 
thinking men among all nations had believed it. 
Columbus also declared that if the world were 
round, three-quarters of it was already known. 

Sailors had gone as far west as the Cape Verde 
islands off the coast of Africa. To the east Marco 
Polo had traveled as far as China, Japan, and the 
great ocean, later named the Pacific. Columbus 
believed that the distance from the Cape Verde 
islands eastward to Japan was three-fourths of the 
entire distance around the world. The remaining 
one-fourth could therefore be easily explored. 
The islands that were supposed to be scattered 
over the Atlantic ocean would make the voyage 

[24] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

to Japan, China, and India still easier. He could 
stop at them, he said, as he sailed westward. 

Columbus, of course, made an error in the size 
of the earth. It is much larger than he had 
dreamed. It is indeed fortunate that he made the 
error. If he had known that Asia is more than 
ten thousand miles from Spain by the westward 
route, he would not have been able to secure ships 
or men to go on such an expedition. It is prob- 
able that he himself would not have dared to make 
the attempt to go such a distance though the Sea 
of Darkness, as the Atlantic was then called, with 
its dangers and fabled monsters. 

After hearing the words of Columbus and 
examining the charts, the king of Portugal ap- 
pointed a council to consider the matter. This 
council after some study decided against the 
scheme. The king accepted the decision of the 
council, and told Columbus the project was not 
one that could be carried out with hope of 
success. With a sad heart Columbus took his 
charts and left the court. But he was not ready 
to give up. If Portugal did not wish to take 
part in the voyage of discovery, he would go 
to Spain, where he hoped for better success. 

[^5] 



Columbus and Magellan 



As his wife had died while he was pleading 
with the king, there was now no tie to bind 
him to Portugal. With his little son Diego, he 
set forth on foot on the long and tiresome 
journey to Andalusia, the fair province of south- 
ern Spain. 

7. Columbus arrives in Spain. — It was in Janu- 
ary, 1485, that he reached the river Tinto. On 
the banks of this stream is the little town of 
Palos. On all sides of the valley stretched beauti- 
ful vineyards and gardens. A short distance from 
the town, on a high bluff overlooking the sea, 
the Franciscans had built a monastery called La 
Rabida. Up this hill one could have seen, on 
that January day, the tired traveler Columbus 
leading his little son. The road was sandy; 
dark pines at times hid the travelers from view. 
At last the gate was reached. Footsore and 
weary Columbus sat down to rest. In the 
monastery was a young monk named Marchena. 
He saw the tired travelers, and gladly gave them 
food. 

There was somethino^ in the face of Columbus 
that told the good Franciscan that the stranger 
at the gate was no ordinary traveler. He asked 

[26] 




a 
■^ 

^ 



(5 



[27] 



Columbus and Magellan 



Columbus where he was going. The wanderer 
told him the story of his life and what he hoped 
to do in Spain. He showed Marchena his plans 
and the charts for a voyage to the westward. 
The Franciscan studied the charts and became 
at once a believer in the ideas of his visitor. 
He promised to aid Columbus in every way 
possible, and asked that Diego be left with him 
to be educated, while Columbus hurried on to 
Seville to see the king and queen of Spain. 

8. Columbus meets Isabella. — At this time 
Spain was at war with the Moors. Let us see 
who the Moors were. They were followers of 
Mohammed, a reliq-ious leader who was born in 
Arabia and had preached a new religion with 
great success. His followers not only overran 
Arabia and Persia, even to the Indus river of 
Hindustan, but swept along the coast in northern 
Africa till they reached the Atlantic. Across 
the narrow strait which separates Europe from 
Africa they saw the beautiful fields and rich 
cities of Spain. 

In the year 711 of our era these Moors crossed 
to Europe, invaded Spain, and defeated the 
armies sent against them. City after city fell 

[28] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

into their hands, until the whole of Spain, except 
the mountains of the northwest, was in their 
power. They built large cities, erected beautiful 
mosques and palaces, and believed that their rule 
would last forever. 

But the Spaniards, though defeated, did not 
give up. Hiding in the mountains, they kept 
together small bands of men. Slowly but surely 
they regained the territory they had lost. After 
seven hundred years they were so successful that 
the Moors had only one stronghold left — the 
city of Granada. In this city was the famous 
palace called the Alhambra, where the Moorish 
king lived. His power, however, was now nearly 
at an end, for the armies of Spain were before 
the walls of Granada, demanding the surrender 
of the city. 

This was the condition of Spain in i486, when 
Columbus reached there. It was not a favorable 
time to consider plans for a voyage across un- 
known waters, yet Columbus did not delay. 

Ferdinand and Isabella, the king and queen 
of Spain, were at Cordova. This beautiful city 
is in southern Spain, not many miles from 
Seville. It is on the stream which the Arabs 

[29] 



-7k 



\ i 






Jit. 



'^^ 



ai^fe 



The Ciralda Tower, Seville 
[30] 



J. ,-■ 



'^1 




Columbus and His Discoveries 

named in their language Guadalquivir — the 
great river. 

Here Columbus had the good fortune to see 
the queen, who was at this time thirty-seven years 
of age. Historians have told of her beautiful 
face, her clear blue eyes, and queenly bearing. 
Her kindly smile cheered Columbus as he un- 
folded his plans. He would add, he said, another 
empire to her crown — an empire beyond the 
seas. There one might find cities rich beyond 
any in her dominions. There, he believed, lived 
millions of human beings, to whom he would 
carry the light of the Christian Faith. 

Columbus could not have presented his plans 
to any ruler more in sympathy with him at the 
very beginning. Isabella had drawn around her 
the greatest men of the land, — the leaders in 
science, in literature, and in the affairs of state. 
Rewards from her hand came to any one who 
helped his fellow-man. She aided in the educa- 
tion of the people, and through her assistance 
the great University of Salamanca became one 
of the most famous seats of learning in Europe. 

It was to this court that Columbus was in- 
vited. He explained to Queen Isabella how he 

[31J 




Queen Isabella 

[32 \ 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

expected to sail, he showed by his charts how 
short a distance Asia was from Europe, and told 
of the glory and wealth that would come to Spain 
through the discovery of new lands and an easy 
and short route to the Spice islands and India. 
Isabella listened eagerly to his story and asked 
a body of geographers, astronomers, and other 
learned men to give their opinion. After a re- 
view of the arguments of Columbus and an exami- 
nation of the charts, they decided that it was not 
possible to find new lands to the westward nor to 
reach India by that route. 

Columbus must have felt his heart sink when 
he heard the decision of the council. Were all 
his years of toil and study to end in failure } 
Was the great rich empire in the west to be dis- 
covered by others ? It was indeed a dark hour 
for the great sailor. 

While the vote of the council had been unfavor- 
able to Columbus, he had made many friends 
among its members by the clear statement of his 
plans. These friends later helped him to carry 
to success his great enterprise. 

There was little hope, however, in presenting 
further plans for westward voyages until the wars 

[33l 




(3 









[34] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

that occupied the attention of the nation were 
ended by the overthrow of the Moors. Colum- 
bus, therefore, decided to join the Spanish army, 
and he served in the battles of southern Spain. 
That no chance of success might, in the mean- 
time, be lost, he sent his brother Bartholomew to 
see the king of England. That monarch, how- 
ever, did not favor the idea, and Bartholomew 
then went to France, where he hoped he might 
be more successful. 

9. Fall of Granada. Columbus's Plan accepted. — 
The days were now passing into months and the 
months into years. The plan of Columbus was 
still as far as ever from success. He therefore 
made up his mind to go to France and to join 
his brother. Desiring to see once more his faith- 
ful friend at La Rabida, he left Seville and went 
to the monastery where he had been so kindly 
received. Marchena hastened to welcome him. 
By good fortune Columbus now met the prior of 
the monastery, Juan Perez, who had been the con- 
fessor of Queen Isabella. Columbus told him of 
his failure to interest the Spanish court in his plans. 
Perez at once offered to assist him by calling on the 
queen. That very night he set out on his mule. 

[35] 



Columbus and Magellan 



It was a long journey of two hundred miles to 
Granada, where the queen was staying with the 
army. The roads were rough, and the aged man 
suffered severely as he rode, at times through the 
open country, at times through the wild moun- 
tains. At last he reached Granada. Before him 
rose the walls of the city. In the great plain 
below Granada a new town, Santa Fe, had been 
built for the Spanish soldiers. Here Perez met 
Isabella and urged her to favor the plan of 
Columbus. It would be a great blow to the 
power of Spain, he said, if some other nation 
should discover these new lands. At the same 
time he showed the good queen how her support 
of the project might lead millions to the knowl- 
edge of the Christian Faith. 

The queen ordered him to send for Columbus. 
Upon receiving the letter the great navigator 
at once set out for Granada. He arrived there 
in time to see the fall of that Moorish capital. 
Seven hundred and eighty-one years had passed 
since the Moors had crossed the strait from 
Africa into Spain. Their power was now 
broken and their last stronHiold had been taken. 
The Moorish rule of Spain was ended forever. 

[ 3M 




g 



<3 

:5r 






[37] 



Columbus and Magellan 



In the afternoon of the 2d of January, 1492, 
Columbus saw the silver cross placed on the 
highest tower of the Alhambra — the beautiful 
palace of the Moors. Slowly the flag of Ferdinand 
and Isabella rose over the groves and towers 
and palaces of Granada, amid the echoes of 
booming cannon and the cheers of the joyful 
people. 

It was now a favorable time to again bring 
forward the plan for a westward journey to new 
lands. With the war successfully ended, the 
happy queen once more listened to Columbus, 
and favored the project. 

For a second time a council met, but the 
demands of Columbus were declared to be be- 
yond reason. Columbus refused to yield, and 
set out for France once more. He had scarcely 
gone six miles when he heard the noise of hoofs 
behind him. He looked around and saw a 
messenger from Queen Isabella, who asked him 
to return to the court. 

At last he was successful. The queen agreed 
to his terms, and promised, if necessary, to sell 
her jewels to fit out his vessels. Columbus 
was made Admiral of the Ocean for life and 

[38] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

governor of all lands he might discover. One 
tenth of all the gold found would belong to 
him. His little son Diego was made a page at 
the court of the queen. This was a great honor 
which had been granted only to those of royal 
blood, or to sons of men who held high offices in 
the country. 

Columbus now kissed the hand of the queen 
and left Granada. After eighteen years he felt 
that he was at last on the road to success. He 
was indeed a happy man as he hurried along the 
highway to the distant town of Palos. 

10. Preparations for the Great Voyage. — Co- 
lumbus soon arrived once more at the little town 
of Palos and saw his friends at La Rabida. For 
some offense against the crown of Spain the 
people of Palos were ordered by a royal letter to 
furnish Columbus with two vessels and sufficient 
sailors to man them. This letter of the king and 
queen was read to the people in the little church 
of Palos. The horror of the simple folk, when 
they heard the royal order, knew no bounds. 
They believed the vessels were doomed to cer- 
tain destruction and the sailors to certain death. 

For a time it looked as if the expedition would 

[39] 




Columbus receiuing His Commission 
[40] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

never be fitted out. Sailors refused to go and 
the vessels could not be secured. In fact, it was 
not until a wealthy shipowner and pilot, Martin 
Alonzo Pinzdn, agreed to take part in the voyage, 
that the vessels were obtained. Sufficient sailors 
were at last with great difhculty gathered from 
Palos and the towns along the coast. To secure 
enough men, however, it had been necessary for 
the king to issue an order that all charges against 
any sailor for crimes should be suspended until 
two months after the return of the expedition. 

It was the beginning of August when the 
vessels were ready for the great journey. The 
Saiifa Mari'a was only one hundred tons. She 
was sixty-three feet in length, and had a deck. 
From her masthead iiew the flas^ of Columbus. 
The Piuta was only fifty tons. Her captain was 
Martin Pinzdn. Among her sailors was Juan 
Bermudez, who later discovered and gave his 
name to the Bermuda islands. The third vessel 
was forty tons, and was called the Nina. She was 
under the command of Vicente Pinzdn. There 
were, it is believed, eighty-eight persons in the 
expedition. 

On the 2d of Ausfust, when cvervthingr was 

[41] 



Columbus and Magellan 



ready, Columbus and his men went to the little 
church at Palos, where solemn prayers were 
offered for the success of the great voyage. The 
following morning, just as the sun was rising 
over the hills, Columbus flung aloft the flag of 
Castile and raised his anchor. The crowd on 
the banks of the river waved their farewells with 
tears in their eyes. Slowly the three vessels 
drifted down the river and into the great Atlantic. 
The sails were filled with the strong breezes, and 
the little fleet was soon lost on the distant 
horizon. The most eventful journey in the 
world's history had begun. 

II. The Journey across the Atlantic. — The 
vessels were headed toward the southwest. In a 
few days Columbus saw the Canary islands, with 
the great volcano of Tenerife towering to the 
clouds. The volcano was in violent eruption, and 
some of the sailors were filled with fear at the 
sight of the clouds of smoke and steam that 
poured forth from the crater. Columbus re- 
mained for some days at these islands to repair 
the vessels which had already begun to leak. 

On the 6th of September they left the Ca- 
naries. Their course now lay to the westward, 

[42] 





Departure of Caliimbus 



[43] 



Columbus and Magellan 



but they made little or no headway for three 
days, as the vessels remained almost motion- 
less in the calm which settled around them. 
These were days of great anxiety for Columbus, 
as he had been told that three Portuguese vessels 
were lying in wait to capture him and his fleet. 
On the 9th of September, however, a strong 
breeze blew up and the little ships soon lost sight 
of the Canary islands. They were now fairly out 
on the broad Atlantic. 

As the last trace of land faded from view on 
the horizon, many of the sailors wept aloud. 
Behind them were home, family, and friends ; 
before them a boundless ocean and unknown 
dangers. Probably most of the sailors truly 
believed that they would never again see their 
native land. Columbus, however, with the great- 
est kindness calmed them. He said they would 
soon reach land and cities of untold wealth, and 
they would all return in safety, with great riches 
and honors. At these words the sailors became 
more contented. 

The methods used in those early days to find 
the position of a vessel at sea were very unsatis- 
factory. One of the means used by Columbus 

r 44 ] 



Columbus and HLs Discoveries 

was very simple. He noted carefully the passage 
of the ships through the water, and decided they 
were sailing about four miles an hour. He there- 
fore reckoned that with every turn of his hourglass 
the fleet had traveled a distance of four miles. 
This method proved to be quite accurate, as the 
little vessels were now in the path of the northeast 
trade winds. These winds blow at a steady pace 
day and night to the westward, and the fleet sailed 
easily before them over a smooth, tropical sea. 

While these winds aided the vessels, they were 
a cause of great fear to the sailors. If the wind 
always blew steadily from the east, how would 
it be possible, they asked, for them to sail home- 
w^ard aQ^ain ao^ainst such constant winds ? It was 
in fact not until the 2 2d of September that a wind 
arose from the west. Althouq;h it did not last 
long, it at least gave for a time new courage to 
the seamen. 

During the voyage many interesting things had 
been seen. They had run into that vast stretch 
of floating seaweed in the mid-Atlantic named 
the Sargasso sea. The sailors now feared that 
the ocean was becoming shallow, and that their 
vessels were in danger of shipwreck. Others 

^[45] 




[46] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 



believed that they would become so entangled 
in the seaweed that they could never escape. 
Scarcely had they passed beyond the Sargasso 
sea without disaster, when the Pinta signaled 




The First Voyage of Columbus 



that land was in sight. All looked anxiously, and 
hymns of praise were sung, but alas ! it was only 
a bank of clouds that quickly dissolved. 

As the little fleet sailed on day after day before 
the genial trade wind, discontent arose with greater 

[47] 




[48] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

force every hour, but the admiral ever kept his 
westward course. On the 7th of October a flock 
of birds was noticed flying toward the south- 
west. As the Portuguese were reported to have 
made many of their discoveries by following the 
flight of birds, Pinzdn suggested to Columbus 
that they follow the birds. Columbus consented, 
and the little fleet turned to the southwest over 
a sea as smooth, said Columbus, as the river at 
Seville, and with breezes as soft as those of Spain 
in the month of April. 

Signs of the near approach of land now became 
more and more evident. Loo;s besjan to float 
past them, as well as green rushes, sticks that 
had been recently carved, and bits of sugar cane. 
Land birds became more and more numerous, 
while jays, ducks, and pelicans were frequently 
seen. 

On the night of the iith of October, about 
ten o'clock, Columbus, intently watching for land, 
as was his custom, suddenly saw a light moving 
up and down in the distance. At two o'clock the 
next morning (Friday, October 12, 1492) the look- 
out on the Piiita saw, by the bright moonlight, 
the long-looked-for coast line. The welcome cry 

[49] 



I 



Columbus and Magellan 



of " Land ! " was heard, while the warning gun 
rang out on the quiet night. 

At last the long years of trial and suffering 
brought richly deserved reward to the brave 
admiral. Land had been found by the westward 
route, and although he did not know it, Columbus M 
had found a new world. 

12. The Landing in the New World. — At the 
break of day Columbus saw a low and beautiful 
island stretching before him. He clad himself in 
his most gorgeous scarlet clothes, and with the 
captains of the other vessels was rowed ashore. 
In his hand he bore the flag of Spain. Each cap- 
tain carried a banner, on which was a orreen cross 
with the letters F and Y — the initials of Ferdi- 
nand and Isabella (or Ysabella, as it was often 
written). All knelt and returned thanks to God, 
as they took possession of the land in the name 
of the crown of Spain. 

The natives came near to view the strange 
scene, — the white men with their wonderful 
clothing, their arms, and their beautiful boats 
which, with their w^hite sails, seemed like mon- 
strous birds. They believed the visitors to have 
come from another world. To keep their good 

[50] 




:5 

3 



s: 



[5^ 



Columbus and Magellan 



will Columbus gave them presents. These na- 
tives appeared to be large and strong. Their 
foreheads were broad and their hair coarse and 
black. They wore no clothing, but had painted 
their bodies in brilliant colors. For weapons 
they used spears tipped with fishbone. Their 
canoes, made for the most part of red cedar, were 
cut out of a single tree trunk, and were at times 
large enough to hold from forty to fifty men. 

The natives called the island which had been 
discovered Guanahani. Columbus named it San 
Salvador, or Holy Redeemer. It is probably 
Watling island, one of the Bahamas, which re- 
ceived its modern name from an English pirate 
who lived in this region. After remaining here 
two days, Columbus resumed his journey, touch- 
ing at the principal islands and taking possession. 
A high cross was erected upon each headland. 
To the laroe island south of San Salvador he 
gave the name Fernandina. It is now called 
Long island. 

13. The Discovery of Cuba. — On the 28th of 
October Columbus saw for the first time the 
outlines of the beautiful " Pearl of the Antilles." 
It was called by the natives Cubanacan, which 

[52] 




Watling Island 



[53] 



Columbus and Magellan 



means "the central province." The island was 
named by Columbus Juana, in honor of Prince 
Don Juan, son of the king and queen of Spain. 

Columbus wrote of Juana, or Cuba, as it is now 
called : " It is very fertile, as in truth all the other 
islands are. There are many large bays around 
it, and it is crossed by beautiful rivers. One sees 
many high mountains, covered with trees of great 
height. These trees are green in all seasons, for 
w^ien I saw them they were as beautiful as the 
trees of Spain in May. Some of the trees were 
in blossom, while others were bearing fruit. Birds 
were singing in the forests in countless numbers, 
even though it was the month of November. 
The palm trees, of which there are seven or eight 
different kinds, are hisfherand more beautiful than 
any I have ever seen before. Villages were seen 
near the seacoast, but as I discovered no large 
cities, and could not talk with the natives, who 
fled at our approach, I continued to the west- 
ward, thinking I would find great towns and 
cities." 

Columbus believed he was on the coast of Asia, 
near the great and rich cities of the Great Khan. 
From signs made by the Indians Columbus was 

[54] 




Scene in Cuba 
[55] 



Columbus and Magellan 



led to believe that the Khan lived a short distance 
inland. He therefore sent two messengers to 
give him letters from the king of Spain. One of 
the messenorers was selected because of his knowl- 
edge of Arabic and other Oriental tongues, which, 




Route of Columbus m the New World 

it was thought, would be of great use in talking 
with the Khan. 

With Indians as guides, the two Spaniards 
started forth. They bore with them many 
presents for the Great Khan. After traveling 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

toward the interior of the island for a distance of 
thirty-six miles, they reached a village of fifty 
houses. The natives crowded around the 
strangers, kissing their hands and feet. They 
believed that visitors from heaven had come to 
see them. The Spaniards, however, were disap- 
pointed when they found no great cities, as they 
had hoped, and no rich and beautiful palaces. 
Instead, only thatched huts were seen, and the 
poverty of the Indians showed that they had no 
gold. 

The messengers of Columbus, therefore, started 
back to the ships. On the way they often saw 
the natives place rolls of leaves in their mouths. 
To the great surprise of the travelers, the natives 
lighted the leaves and smoked them. These rolls 
were called tobaccos. Through this voyage of 
Columbus the use of the tobacco plant was first 
brought to the knowledge of the people of 
Europe. 

Another custom of the natives which so pleased 
the Spaniards that they adopted it for themselves 
was that of sleeping in nets. The natives hung 
these nets between trees or posts, and called them 
hamacas, from which we get our word hammocks. 

[57] 



Columbus and Magellan 



Columbus now carefully explored the coast of 
Cuba. It was while doing this that he saw the 
Pinta sail away to the eastward. He flew signals 
to her to return. She did not obey the signals, 
however, but kept on her way, and the white sails 
of the vessel were soon lost below the horizon. 
Martin Pinzdn had deserted Columbus. He had 
heard from the Indians of gold mines which he 
desired to secure for himself. He then hoped to 
sail for Spain with the news of the great dis- 
covery. This he believed would secure for 
himself honors and riches from the king of 
Spain. 

With his two vessels Columbus sailed eastward, 
and soon saw on the horizon mountains that 
seemed to rise from the sea. The land was the 
island now called Haiti. Columbus, however, 
named it La Isla Espanola (Spanish island). 

14. Espanola or Haiti. — In a description of 
the island of Haiti, Columbus told of the gran- 
deur of its scenery. The mountains, he said, 
were of great size and beauty. Here were vast 
plains, groves, and fields of great fertility. He 
saw many excellent harbors and numerous rivers. 
He found many kinds of spices here, also gold 

[58] 




Old Map of Haiti and Porto Rico 
[59] 



Columbus and Magellan 



and other metals. The natives of the island were 
afraid of the strange visitors, for they fled when- 
ever the Spaniards drew near them. Columbus 
tried to win their good will by giving them pres- 
ents of beads and pieces of bright-colored cloth. 

It was on the 6th of December that Colum- 
bus entered the beautiful harbor which he named, 
in honor of the day, St. Nicholas — the Mole 
St. Nicholas of to-day. He then cruised along 
the north coast of Espafiola, until on Christmas 
Day the Saufa Mai^i'a ran on a sandbank and 
became a total wreck. As the Pmta had already 
deserted, only one vessel, the little Nina, remained. 
This vessel was too small to take her own crew 
and that of the Santa Mari'a back to Spain. It 
was decided, therefore, to build a fort with the 
timbers of the Santa Mari'a. They armed it 
with her guns, and left as many men as wished 
to stay to form a settlement. It was named La 
Navidad, — the Spanish word for Christmas. 
Forty-four chose to remain. Provisions, seeds, 
and ammunition sufficient for a year were left 
with them. They were urged by Columbus to 
treat the natives kindly. Ten Indians were taken 
on the Nina as presents for the Spanish sover- 

[60] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

eigns, and as examples of the new type of man 
in this unknown world. 

The sails were now set for the homeward 
journey, and as the little boat sped along, a sail 
was seen in the distance. It was the ship of 
Pinzdn, who had repented of his action, and was 
now anxious to place the Pinta once more under 
the command of Columbus. 

15. The Homeward Journey. — On the i6th of 
January the two vessels saw the land fade behind 
them as they hurried on their homeward journey. 
Terrible storms threatened to swamp the little 
boats. So terrified were the sailors that all made 
a vow, if their lives were spared, to go in solemn 
procession to church at the first port they touched. 
Lest all knowledge of his great voyage should be 
lost if his vessels sank in the raging seas, Colum- 
bus wrote out a statement which he wrapped in 
oiled cloth and sealed in a cask. The cask was 
thrown overboard. 

On the 1 8th of February, 1493, the two vessels 
sighted the islands that had been named by the 
Portuguese the Azores, from the large number 
of hawks or kites which were seen there. Here 

the Portuguese tried to seize the vessels, but 

[61] 







[62] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 

Columbus set sail and escaped. The seas were 
again torn with gales of wind, and the little ves- 
sels were once more in such great danger that 
the admiral decided to seek the shelter of the 
port of Lisbon. On February 25 he entered 
the mouth of the Tagus, the tawny stream that 
encircling the picturesque city of Toledo passes 
through Lisbon and there enters the sea. Colum- 
bus sent a letter to the Spanish sovereigns and 
another to the king of Portugal, in whose waters 
the little vessels were now riding. The king of 
Portugal invited Columbus to court, and treated 
him with great kindness. 

It was on the 15th of March, 1493, that Co- 
lumbus reached once more with his vessels the 
little town of Palos, whose inhabitants poured 
out to see the returned voyagers. Gladly the 
bells of St. George and La Rabida welcomed the 
mariners. Upon reaching shore Columbus with 
his men went at once to the church of St. George 
to fulfill their vow and offer up thanks for their 
safe return. 

The Spanish sovereigns were at Barcelona, and 
at once invited Columbus to come there. With- 
out delay the admiral started for the court. 

[63] 







I 

"J 



[64] 



Columbus and His Discoveries 



Every city through which he passed welcomed 
him with open arms. The streets were filled 
with people, anxious to see the great discoverer, 
and the Indians that he had brought with him 
from the New World. These Indians, painted in 
brilliant colors, with bracelets and earrings of 
gold, seemed to the simple people to have come 
from another planet. 

As Columbus approached the court, the 
Spanish nobles came out to meet him. At last 
he Reached the great city of Barcelona. The 
king and queen had had a vast tent erected in 
the open air. Here on a golden throne the 
sovereigns of Spain were surrounded by the 
nobility of the land. As Columbus drew near, 
all arose. The admiral, on bended knee, kissed 
the hands of the king and queen. He told them 
of his wonderful journey, of the beauty and riches 
of the lands which he had found. He showed 
them stuffed birds of brilliant plumage and rare 
plants. The Indians were an object of great 
interest to the sovereigns, especially to Queen 
Isabella. All the court afterward went to the 
royal chapel, where prayers of thanksgiving were 
offered for the safe return of the voyagers. 

[65] 




[66] 



CHAPTER III 

SPANISH EXPLORATION IN AMERICA (1492-1533) 

16. Later Voyages of Columbus. Ponce de 
Leon. — Columbus made three later voyages to 
the New World. Among the lands which he 
discovered were the Leeward islands of the 
Caribbean sea, and Jamaica, to which he gave 
the name Santiago — or St. James — the patron 
saint of Spain. He also discovered the mouth of 
the Orinoco ; the coast of Honduras and of the 
isthmus of Panama. 

It was on his second voyage that he sighted 
(November 19, 1493) the rich and beautiful island 
of Porto Rico. Columbus named it San Juan 
Bautista (St. John the Baptist). It was called by 
the natives Borinquen. 

Among the members of this expedition was a 
soldier who, by his energy and his intelligence, 
rose steadily to higher honors. This man was 
Ponce de Leon. In 1508 he was sent from 
Espanola to explore the island of which the 

[67] 



Columbus and Magellan 



Spaniards had liad only a passing view. Ponce 
landed easily with his men, and was treated with 
great kindness by the natives. After a small 
quantity of gold had been found, Ponce returned 
to Espaiiola. He was appointed by the king 
governor of Porto Rico, but the appointment 
was recalled, because the right to name governors 
of lands in the New World belonged to Columbus 
or to his representative. 

Ponce, however, was too active a man to re- 
main in idleness. He had heard of a wonderful 
spring in a country to the north. This spring 
would restore youth to the aged, and Ponce made 
up his mind to find it. With three ships he 
sailed northwestward and reached on Easter 
Sunday a land, which he named, in honor of the 
day, Florida, from Pascua Florida, the Spanish 
term for Easter. Ponce found no spring, how- 
ever, and soon returned. He now visited Spain 
and received another appointment as governor of 
Porto Rico, as the island was at this time called. 
The name San Juan Bautista was given to the 
capital, which was founded on a good harbor on 
the north coast. This capital, now called merely 
San Juan, is one of the two great ports of the 

[68] 



Spanish Exploration in America 

island. The name of the explorer himself was 
given to the thriving city, Ponce, on the south 
coast. 

About 1 52 1 Ponce made another expedition to 
F'lorida, and was wounded by an arrow. He 
returned to Cuba to die, and his remains were 
later taken to his beloved island of Porto Rico, 
where they rest to this day in the city of San 
Juan. 

17. Balboa discovers the Pacific. — Columbus 
believed that there was a large ocean somewhere 
to the west of Espanola. He had heard from the 
Indians of this great body of water, but failed to 
find it on any of his voyages. In 15 13 — twenty- 
one years after the discovery of America — this 
wonderful ocean was at last discovered by a 
Spaniard named Balboa. 

This brave man started from Darien on the 
isthmus of Panama. He had one hundred and 
ninety men and a number of Indians to carry the 
burdens. His journey was full of toil and danger. 
He had to cut his way through the forests and 
the jungle ; the route lay across high, rocky 
mountain ridges ; the savage Indians fought him 
at every step, but he won their good will at last 

[69] 



h -4i 



[70J 



1 



C3 



Spanish Exploration in America 

by giving them presents of looking-glasses, bells, 
and small hatchets. They then aided him by 
carrying some of the baggage. After twenty-five 
days of great labor and suffering, he reached 
(September 25, 15 13) a ridge of the lofty moun- 
tains. Before him lay the Pacific, that vast waste 
of water that covers more than one third of the 
earth's surface ! 

Balboa, with tears of joy in his eyes, fell on his 
knees in prayer, as did all his comrades. Trees 
were chopped down and made into crosses. 
These crosses, stamped with the arms of the 
Spanish king, were then raised aloft to show 
that all the country was claimed for the crown 
of Spain. 

Balboa was very anxious to reach the ocean 
that lay before him, but it was still a long journey. 
Rocky mountain ridges, dense forests, deep 
swamps, tribes of savage Indians, were before 
him, as he came down the heights from which he 
had first seen the great waters. After four days 
of hard toil, however, he reached the shore, and 
wading into the water with his sword in hand, 
claimed this ocean for the king of Spain. 

He called the waters he discovered the South 

[71] 




(J 



o 



CQ 



m 



[7^] 



Spanish Exploration in America 



Sea. Some years later the name Pacific was 
given to this ocean by Magellan, and it is this 
name by which it is known to this day. 

i8. Cortes conquers Mexico. — The early Span- 
ish explorers heard many tales of lands of gold 
to the westward of Cuba. To Hernando Cortes 
was given the command of an expedition to seek 
these lands. He started from Santiago, Cuba, 
November i8, 15 18, sailed to the island of Trini- 
dad, and cruised alono- the shores of Yucatan. 
He arrived in Mexico at the site of the present 
city of Vera Cruz in the spring of 15 19. Scarcely 
had he landed when messenorers arrived from 
Montezuma, the war chief of the Aztecs. These 
messengers asked, as best they could, what the 
Spaniards wished.. Cortes replied that he wished 
to see the king or war chief, but they replied 
that it was not possible. In a short time other 
messengers came from Montezuma, They bore 
beautiful presents, of gold and jewels. Monte- 
zuma refused to allow the vSpaniards to come 
to him. 

The Aztecs did not know how to write, but 
instead drew pictures. When, for instance, Mon- 
tezuma's messengers returned, they showed him 

[73] 




[74] 



Spanish Exploration in America 

a picture. On this picture were drawn the ships 
of the Spaniards, the horses, and the men. Mon- 
tezuma at once knew how many strangers had 
landed and how many ships they had. He had 
never seen a horse, and was of course terrified by 
the pictures of these animals. 

The sight of the rich gifts in such great quan- 
tities aroused at once the Spaniards' thirst for 
gold, and Cortes resolved to go forward to Mon- 
tezuma. That his men might have no hope of 
return, he sank all his ships. Nothing was now 
left for the soldiers except to go forward to vic- 
tory or to death. There were only about five 
hundred and fifty Spaniards. Before them was 
a wild country in which lived hundreds of thou- 
sands of brave warriors who might prove hostile. 
The little band of Spaniards started about the 
middle of August (15 19) on its perilous journey. 
The low lands of Mexico are covered with the 
dense jungles found in the torrid zone. Through 
these jungles Cortes had to cut a path. His 
men and horses were at times almost lost in the 
deep swamps. But he pushed on, and came into 
the higher lands. Here the beautiful vegetation, 
the lofty trees, the clear sky, and cool breezes 

[75] 




[76] 



Spanish Exploration in America 



rewarded the brave Spaniards for the hardships 
they had suffered. The land, as they went on- 
ward, became more and more hilly. They 
crossed, after great toil, one mountain ridge after 
another. 

At last they reached the edge of the great 
plateau of Mexico, which is here seven thousand 
feet above the sea. Far to the westward on this 
high land was the city of Mexico, the home of 
Montezuma and the Aztecs. As the Spaniards 
moved onward, the warhke Tlascalans met them 
in battle, but were easily defeated. The Tlasca- 
lans knew at once that they were not strong 
enough to oppose these men with terrible guns 
that seemed to them to give forth thunder and 
lightning. They had never before seen horses, 
and these animals struck terror to their hearts. 
The Tlascalans were therefore glad to become 
friends to the Spaniards and to join their army. 
Another reason for this friendship was the desire 
of the Tlascalans to revenge themselves -on the 
Aztecs. The Aztec nation was made up of three 
warlike tribes under the war chief Montezuma. 
They lived in the valley of Mexico. For years 
they had spread terror through the country, 

[77] 




Hernando Cortes 



[781 



Spanish Exploration in America 

waging war with terrible cruelty, and bearing off 
captives to be tortured to death. 

With these new friends Cortes moved forward. 
He reached without great difficulty the city of 
Mexico. The war chief Montezuma, by a well- 
formed plan, became a captive of the Spaniards. 
The Mexicans for a time did not oppose the 
strangers, as they believed that the Spaniards 
would soon go back to their own country, and 
would give Montezuma his freedom. When, 
however, the Spaniards did not return, and Mon- 
tezuma still remained a captive, the fury of the 
Mexicans burst forth. Cortes was driven from 
the city with fearful loss of life among his men. 
He was compelled to go back with his broken 
forces to Tlascala again. 

Here a new army was formed. It was made 
up of a Spanish force of forty horsemen and five 
hundred and fifty foot soldiers. They had eight 
or nine cannon. With the Spaniards were one 
hundred and ten thousand Tlascalans. There 
were around the city of Mexico many canals on 
which the Mexicans used hundreds of war canoes. 
To win a victory over them the Spaniards felt 
it was necessary to secure boats. They therefore 

[79] 




Cathedral of Mexico on Site of Aztec Temple 



L8o] 



Spanish Exploration in America 

built boats in sections small enough to be carried 
on the back of men and mules to the city of 
Mexico. There the sections were later put to- 
gether on the banks of the canals. Everything 
was now ready for the forward march. 

The Aztecs opposed them at every step. The 
war canoes attacked the boats of the Spaniards, 
but were completely defeated. Every street was 
blocked with stones and wooden beams, behind 
which the Aztecs fought with the greatest hero- 
ism. From the roofs of the houses stones were 
hurled upon the Spaniards and Tlascalans. For 
eight long months this bitter war was waged. At 
last the Spaniards carried the city, and the Aztec 
nation fell forever, August 13, 1521. 

19. Pizarro conquers Peru. — Among the sol- 
diers of Balboa, when he discovered the Pacific, 
was Francisco Pizarro. From the natives alonij 
the coast of Panama, Pizarro heard that there 
was a rich country to the south, named Peru. 
He decided to go in search of it at the first 
opportunity. He could neither read nor write, 
but he had a strong will, and men had faith in his 
ability to carry out his plans. 

It was not until 1524, however, eleven years 

[Si] 




[82] 



Spanish Exploration in America 

after he had first seen the Pacific with Balboa, 
that Pizarro was able to start on his southward 
voyage. He spent the following three years 
exploring the coasts of the present countries of 
Colombia and Ecuador. His men suffered from 
hunger, and many were killed by the Indians. 
At one time Pizarro received an order from 
Panama to allow any of his men to return there, 
if they wished to do so. Pizarro at once obeyed 
the order. Drawing a line, he called his men 
together. " Those who will go to the south with 
me, cross that line," he said. Only fourteen brave 
men crossed the line that meant danger, toil, and 
perhaps death. The others returned to Panama. 
With his small force Pizarro sailed for five 
hundred miles downi the coast of Peru, landing at 
many points. He learned of the riches of the 
country, with its mines of gold and silver. He 
was told of a wonderful road that stretched for 
fifteen hundred miles through the land. This 
road was built across the mountains, and was 
made partly of cement, so that it remains even to 
this day. Along this highway, at short distances 
from each other, lived fleet runners. When a 
message was to be sent, it was given to the first 

[83] 




Seem ill Fern 



[84] 



Spanish Exploration in America 

runner, who hurried to the second. He in turn 
ran at full speed to the third, and so on along the 
whole length of the great highway. In this way 
messages were sent with great rapidity for long 
distances. 

Pizarro was told of the rich cities of the land, 
with their beautiful homes and palaces with roofs 
of gold. The ruler of this rich people was called 
the Inca.' The last Inca had left two sons. 
Each desired to rule the country, and as a result, 
war broke out between the brothers. Pizarro at 
this time returned to Panama, and later paid a 
visit to Spain. He was granted an audience by 
the king, who was so pleased with his reports 
of Peru that he appointed him governor of that 
country. Pizarro sailed at once from Spain for 
Panama. A new force of ships and men had been 
gathered for the conquest of the rich country of 
the Peruvians. Landing with one hundred and 
seventy men on the coast of Peru (1531), he 
marched along the great highway toward the 
heart of the country. 

^The word "Inca'' means chief. The Incas claimed to be de- 
scendants of the sun, and were venerated by the people as divine 



beings. 



[85] 




[86] 



Spanish Exploration in America 

The Peruvians made little effort to oppose the 
Spaniards. Pizarro soon learned that in the war 
between the brothers one had been captured and 
killed by his victorious rival. The successful 
brother was named Atahualpa. He sent messen- 
gers with costly presents to the Spaniards as they 
drew near to his capital. When he arrived in that 
city Pizarro asked to see the Inca, Atahualpa. 
Pizarro was surrounded by his men. They were 
on horseback, in full armor, with flags flying, 
making a beautiful picture in the bright sunshine. 
At last Atahualpa arrived. He was borne in a 
golden chair, and was clad in cloth of gold and 
silver. His subjects did not dare even to look up 
at him, but kept their eyes always on the ground. 
After a short interview, the Spaniards suddenly 
fell upon Atahualpa, seized him, and bore him 
off as a captive after killing by hundreds the 
Peruvians who tried to save him. 

The unfortunate monarch offered to fill the 
room in which he was confined with golden 
vessels, if they would give him his freedom. His 
offer was accepted, and the gold in great quantities 
secured. But the Spaniards did not keep their 
promise. On the charge of plotting against them, 

[87] 







s 



[881 



Spanish Exploration in America 



they put the unhappy Atahualpa to death. The 
great and rich country of Peru soon came (1533) 
under the rule of Spain. 

Thus step by step nearly all of Central and 
South America, except Brazil, became the prop- 
erty of the crown of Spain. 

20. Division of the World. — All the people of 
Europe believed that the voyages of Columbus 
had opened for Spain a westward route to the 
eagerly sought Spice islands.* As Vasco da 
Gama had given to Portugal an eastward path 
to these islands, it was probable that serious 
trouble might arise between the Portuguese and 
the Spaniards. At this time practically all the 
Christian nations were in communion with the 
Roman Catholic Church. Spain and Portugal, 
therefore, were glad to turn to the Supreme 
Pontiff, as head of the Church, to pass judgment 
on any disputed questions. As early as 1454 

^ '• It is hard for us to understand this enthusiasm for spices, for 
which we care much less nowadays. One former use of spices was 
to preserve food, which could not then, as now, be carried rapidly, 
while still fresh, from place to place : nor did our conveniences then 
exist for keeping it by the use of ice. Moreover, spice served to 
make even spoiled food more palatable than it would otherwise have 
been." — Robinson, "Western Europe," p. 350. 

[89] 



Columbus and Magellan 



Portugal had asked Pope Nicholas the Fifth to 
confirm her title to the territory which the 
Portuguese had discovered along the coast of 
Africa. This request was granted. Later decrees 
of the Popes gave Portugal the title to all lands 
already found, or which should be found by them, 
not only from Morocco, southward, but even to 
the Far East. By these decrees Portugal obtained 
the sole right to the water route around Africa 
to India. 

Spain did not long delay in securing from the 
Supreme Pontiff title to her discoveries. Less 
than two months after the return of Columbus, 
Pope Alexander the Sixth granted to Spain 
exclusive rights to the lands which she had just 
discovered. It was now more and more evident 
that there would soon be war between Spain and 
Portugal, unless the disputes arising from their 
recent discoveries should be settled. Both of 
these nations were very anxious to avoid war. 
They therefore asked the Pope to mark the 
boundary between their territories. The Pope 
believed that the fairest method would be to give 
to Spain the lands to the west, and to Portugal 
those to the east. He therefore drew a line, 

[90] 



Spanish Exploration in America 



NORTH J i 




V-.A- 




called the Line of Demarcation, from the north 
to the south pole, one hundred leagues west of 
any one of the Azores and the Cape Verde islands. 
It was supposed that these two groups of islands 
were on the same meridian. 

This decision was acceptable to Portugal. She 
soon changed her mind, however, as she feared 
this division would forever 
shut her out from the New 
World across the Atlantic. 
She therefore asked to 
have the line moved far- 
ther westward, and with 
Spain's permission the line 
was drawn (June 7, 1494) 
three hundred and seventy- 
leagues west of the Cape 
Verde islands. This change was a fortunate 
one for Portugal, since it gave her title to a 
part of South America, as we shall now see. 

21. Cabral discovers Brazil. — The Portuguese 

O 

were at this time frequently sending vessels to 
India to fetch the silks, dyestuffs, and spices of 
the rich Eastern ports. Early in the year 1500 
Cabral, a Portuguese nobleman, sailed with a 

[91] 




A ,11 E R I 




The Division of the World 
made in 1494 



Columbus and Magellan 



splendid fleet of tliirteen ships on the long 
journey to India. He planned to trade with 
the Oriental princes and to establish posts for 
commerce with India. 

Cabral took with him rich presents to win the 
good will of the Eastern kings. Desiring to 
avoid the dangerous coast of Africa, he sailed 
farther westward than was usual. Without his 
knowing it, his vessels were carried by the great 
South Atlantic current to the west. To his great 
surprise he saw, one April morning, land on the 
horizon. 

Cabral called the newly discovered country 
Vera Cruz (True Cross), a name later changed to 
Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). The name Brazil, by 
which it is now known, was given to it from the 
dyewood, which is exported in large quantities to 
Europe. 

If this land were to the east of the Line of 
Demarcation, it belonged of course to Portugal. 
Cabral believed this to be a fact, and he therefore 
set up a large cross, and claimed the country for 
his kine. At the same time he sent back a vessel 
to Portugal with the glad news of his discovery. 
It was later found that the Line did run through 

[92] 



Spanish Exploration in America 

this part of the New World, and for this reason 
Portugal secured Brazil.^ She held it for almost 
four hundred years, and the Portuguese language 
remains to this day the tongue of the people, 
while in nearly all the remainder of South 
America the Spanish language is spoken. 

1 The story of CabraPs further journey is full of interest. He 
reached India September 13, 1500, and established trading posts. 
He arrived home in Lisbon again July 23, 1501. In his cargo he 
had large quantities of spices, sandalwood, camphor, opium, and 
other dmgs, besides porcelain and jewels. These were the articles 
most in demand in Europe. Bartholomew Di'az was a member of 
this expedition, and by a tragic fate was lost with his vessel in a 
typhoon off the cape he had discovered about fourteen years before. 



[93] 



CHAPTER IV 

MAGELLAN'S EXPEDITION AROUND THE GLOBE 

(1519-1522) 

2 2. Ferdinand Magellan. — The discovery of the 
New World and the voyages around Africa awak- 
ened the desire for exploration in all the nations 
of Europe. On the 20th of October, 15 17, there 
entered the beautiful city of Seville a native of 
Portugal, who was destined soon to secure im- 
mortal fame. This man was Ferdinand Magellan. 

He was born about 1480, among the mountains 
of northern Portugal, Being of a noble family, 
he was received at an early age as a page at the 
court of Lisbon. 

Anxious, however, to seek his fortune in the 
Orient, Magellan joined (1505) the fleet of Al- 
meida, the Viceroy of India, and sailed for the 
East. The fleet was made up of twenty-two ships, 
bearing no less than fifteen thousand men. The 
king of Portugal in person sailed with the ships 
as far as the mouth of the Tagus river. Almeida 

[94] 




Ferdinand Magellan 
[95] 



Columbus and Magellan 



was ordered to build trading posts and to over- 
throw the power of the Arabs. Portugal desired 
the commerce of the East to flow into Europe 
through her capital, Lisbon. 

For seven years Magellan remained in the ser- 
vice of Portugal in the East. They were years 
of the greatest activity. Under the Portuguese 
flag he fought battle after battle, besieged and 
captured city after city. The vessels of Portugal 
sailed through the strait of Malacca to the distant 
Moluccas or Spice islands, thus reaching at last 
(15 1 2) the lands they had sought so long. When 
the flag of Portugal had been safely planted in 
the Orient, Magellan returned to his native land. 

In 15 13 war broke out between the Portuguese 
and the Moors of Morocco, and in one of the 
battles by which the Moorish power was over- 
thrown Magellan was so severely wounded that he 
was lamed for life. He then returned to Lisbon 
and laid before the king plans for a westward 
voyage to the Spice islands. At the same time 
he asked the king for an increase in his pension. 

The project for a westward voyage did not 
interest Dom Manoel, the kinor, ^^ the eastward 
water route was now a certainty and was under 

[96] 




Scene in the Moluccas 



[97] 



Columbus and Magellan 



the exclusive control of Portugal. The request 
for an increase of pension was denied on the 
spot. 

Magellan then declared his intention of seeking 
service elsewhere, and asked permission to depart. 
The king said he might do as he pleased. Upon 
this Magellan desired to kiss the king's hand 
at parting, but the king would not offer it to 
him. 

Magellan, thereupon, cast off his allegiance to 
Portugal and set out for Spain. 

He arrived in Seville on the 20th of Octo- 
ber, 151 7. His plans were quickly laid before 
the king, Charles I, at that time only eighteen 
years of age. Magellan proved to the satisfaction 
of Charles that the Spice islands lay within the 
Spanish half of the world. With an expedition 
sailing westward Magellan declared that he would 
find a passage to the Pacific and the Moluccas. 
He believed South America sloped gradually to 
the west, as Africa did to the east. No passage, 
however, like that around the cape of Good Hope, 
had yet been found. Magellan, therefore, said he 
" would coast the whole continent till he came 
to the cape, which corresponds to the cape of 

[98] 



Magellan's Expedition 



Good Hope, and would discover many new lands, 
and the way to the Spice islands." 

By means of a globe which he had brought 
with him from Portugal, Magellan showed the 
king the route he intended to take. He proved 
to the king's satisfaction that this western expedi- 
tion would nowhere enter territory claimed by 
Portugal, as the routes of the Portuguese lay to 
the eastward. Charles and his advisers, especially 
Bishop Fonseca of Burgos, who was at that time 
head of the colonial ofifice of Spain, saw the value 
of Magellan's plans, and gave their approval for 
the expedition. 

The contract was signed March 22, 15 18, by 
King Charles. He agreed to fit out five ships, 
and promised that, no other expedition should 
I be sent out for ten years, except by royal per- 
mission. Magellan and a friend, Ruy Faleiro, 
— a famous map-maker and student of naviga- 
tion, — were to receive one twentieth part of the 
profits of their discoveries. They were also to 
have the title of governors of any lands they 
might find on their journey. 

Magellan now returned to Seville to complete 
his plans. No sooner did the Portuguese learn 

[99] 



Columbus and Magellan 



of his success in securing the approval of the king 
and his council to his plans than they began to 
place obstacles in his path. 

They urged Magellan, as a Portuguese, to give 
up his scheme, which they declared would im- 
peril the glory of his native land. They urged 
him to return to Lisbon, where honors would be 
showered upon him. Magellan, however, knew 
too well what to expect from the king of Portu- 
gal, and firmly refused. The Portuguese then 
tried to influence the king. 

At this time Dom Manoel, king of Portugal, 
was engaged to marry the sister of King Charles, 
and the Portuguese suggested that Magellan's 
expedition might cause a disagreement between 
the royal families. Charles, however, was now in 
earnest, and not only would not listen to the idea 
of giving up the expedition, but ordered Magel- 
lan to hasten to Seville and get the fleet ready. 
Five vessels were secured, — the San Antonio of 
one hundred and twenty tons burden, the Trini- 
dad of one hundred and ten tons, at whose mast- 
head waved Magellan's pennant, the Concepcibn 
of ninety tons, the Victoi^ia of eighty-five tons, 
and the Santiago of seventy-five tons. These 

[lOo] 



Magellan's Expedition 



ships had decks, but they were old and poorly 
adapted for the great voyage. 

Although great difficulties were met in secur- 
ing sailors for the expedition, the preparations 
were at last complete. It is interesting to note 
some of the articles of trade and barter which 
were taken. On the list are quicksilver, vermil- 
ion, alum, colored cloths, ivory, velvet, red caps, 
handkerchiefs, fishhooks, combs, copper, knives, 
looking-glasses, and no less than twenty thousand 
small bells. 

It was now August, 15 19, and Magellan with 
his men, about two hundred and seventy in num- 
ber, went to the church of Santa Mari'a de la 
Victoria in Seville. Here the royal standard was 
presented to him, and he solemnly swore to do all 
in his power to advance the interests of the king. 
His captains and men then took the oath of 
allegiance to the king and of obedience to the 
captain-general of the expedition — Magellan. 

On the loth of August, 15 19, the sails were 
hoisted and the little fleet drifted with the current 
down the muddy waters of the Guadalquivir, At 
the mouth of this river is the port of San 
Lucar de Barrameda. Here they remained for 

[lOl] 



Columbus and Magellan 



favorable winds until the 20th of September, 
1 5 19, when anchors were weighed, sails set, and 
the little flotilla had begun its wonderous journey. 
How many of these brave voyagers saw for the 
last time that day the vine-clad hills of sunny 
Spain ! 

23. The Great Voyage. — Magellan's ships took 
the lead as they steered for the Canary islands. 
That there might be no danger of the vessels 
losing sight of each other, they were ordered to 
follow Magellan's flag by day, and in the darkness 
or in a storm to watch a torch which was kept 
burning on the stern of Magellan's ship. On 
approaching land a cannon would be fired to 
inform the other vessels. 

After six days they reached the island of Tene- 
rife, of the Canary group, where they remained 
a few days for supplies. Again setting sail, they 
steered southward alone the coast of Africa be- 
tween the mainland and the Cape Verde islands. 
Up to this time they had enjoyed good weather 
and smooth seas. As they pushed farther south, 
they met terrific storms. Changing the course 
to the southwestward, it was not until the 29th 
of November, after almost two months of voyag- 

[102I 



Magellan's Expedition 



ing on the broad Atlantic, that they saw the 
mainland of South America at cape St. Augus- 
tine. Pinzdn, one of Columbus's captains, had 
discovered this cape nineteen years earlier. 

Before them stretched the long reefs that reach 
out from the coast. They had reached the site 
of the present city of Pernambuco, where they 
were able to secure supplies of food. These 
consisted of fresh fruits, pineapples, sweet pota- 
toes, and fowls, as well as plenty of fresh water, 
which they needed. Continuing on their journey 
along the coast of the continent they reached the 
bay called Ri'o de Janeiro. To this bay Magellan 
gave the name Santa Luci'a, as it was on St. 
Lucy's Day, December 13, that he entered it. 

Magellan was glad indeed to anchor in the 
beautiful and serene harbor, and for thirteen 
days they rested here, repairing the vessels and 
trading with the natives. One of the members 
of the expedition, in his chronicle of the voyage, 
tells of this barter.^ The natives gave for a knife 



1 This chronicler was an Italian, Antonio Pigafetta. He hap- 
pened to be in Barcelona when the expedition was decided upon, and 
obtained permission to accompany Magellan. He kept an interest- 
ing record of the events of the entire journey. 

[ 103] 




s: 



[T04] 



Magellan's Expedition 



or a hook for catching fish five or six fowls, for a 
comb two geese, for a small mirror or a pair of 
scissors so much fish that ten men could have 
eaten of it, for a bell a full basket of fruit, for a 
king of cards five fowls, and the writer remarks 
of the last item, " They thought they were cheat- 
ing me." One of the customs of these natives that 
shocked the Spaniards was the treatment of pris- 
oners. Whenever an enemy was captured in war, 
they cut him into small pieces. These pieces 
were dried on their chimneys, and afterwards 
eaten with their ordinary food. 

Before the coming of the Spaniards, it had not 
rained for two months. On the day of Magellan's 
arrival it rained, and the natives, believing that 
the stranoers had brous^ht the rain with them 
from heaven, treated them with great kindness. 
The little fleet again resumed its southward jour- 
ney (December 26, 15 19), and about the middle of 
January anchored at the mouth of the Ri'o de la 
Plata, probably opposite the site of the present 
beautiful city of Buenos Ayres. Just four years 
previous to this time the Spaniards, under Juan 
Di'az de Solis, had entered this river while look- 
ing for a westward passage to the Spice islands. 

[105] 



"•J/ 




ilOffiU 




4' 






.^.< 



TN' 



^ 



^i. 



io6] 



Magellan's Expedition 



Solis and eight of his crew were captured, roasted, 
and eaten by the Indians in sight of their com- 
rades. To the river was given the name Ri'o 
de Solis, but eleven years later the name was 
changed to Ri'o de la Plata or River of Silver, 
because plates of silver were found here in the 
homes of the natives. 

Some days were spent in exploring the shallow 
waters of the river, with the hope of finding a 
passage to the great ocean on the west. The 
search was in vain, and once more the fleet 
started southward along the coast where the 
plains, rising in steps, stretched to the mountains 
in the west. The fearful storms that sweep along 
the southern coasts of South America now broke 
upon them. The cold became intense. At last 
they found (March 31, 1520) a refuge where they 
could pass the winter, now rapidly coming on 
them in these far southern latitudes. This har- 
bor was named Port St. Julian. It was not only 
well protected from storms, but abounded in fish 
and birds, and had an abundance of wood and 
fresh water. 

24. The Mutiny and the Discovery of the Strait. 

— As the winter advanced, Magellan believed it 

[107] 



Columbus and Magellan 



to be necessary for their welfare to save the 
provisions. He therefore reduced the amount 
allowed to each person. At once evidences of 
mutiny appeared. There had been more or less 
discontent and even open rebellion on the part of 
some of the captains from the very beginning of 
the expedition. The fact that Magellan, a Portu- 
guese, had been given command of the fleet by 
the king of Spain, had aroused from the first 
jealousy and hatred toward Magellan, on the part 
of Mendoza and Cartagena, two of the five cap- 
tains. On the voyage across the Atlantic, Car- 
tagena, captain of the Sail Aiitonio, was removed 
from his position for disobedience. The com- 
mand of the ship was given to Mesquita, a 
kinsman in whom Magellan could place absolute 
trust. At this time, then, Quesada had command 
of the Concepcibn, Mendoza of the Victoria, 
Serrao of the Santiago, the smallest vessel of the 
fleet, while Magellan was, of course, in command 
of the flagship, the Trinidad. 

On Easter Sunday night (April i, 1520) the 
conspirators, Quesada, Cartagena, and Mendoza, 
carried out their plans. Rowing to the San 
Antonio, they quickly boarded the boat, placed 

[108] 



Magellan's Expedition 



Mesquita, the captain, in irons, and disarmed the 
crew. One officer who resisted was mortally 
wounded by Quesada. Sebastian del Cano, of 
whom we shall hear more, to his everlasting dis- 
grace joined the conspiracy. The mutineers now 
had under their control the San Antonio, the 
Victoria, and the Conccpcioji. Apparently their 
succesf was complete. 

Magellan knew nothing of the outbreak of the 
mutiny until the following morning, when from 
the San Antonio came news of the events of the 
previous night. Magellan sent a boat to each 
of the ships. The little Santiago alone acknowl- 
edged him as captain-general. The expedition 
was now indeed on the brink of disaster. Unless 
Magellan could regain control of his ships, he 
would be compelled to return to Spain in dis- 
grace, as he could not proceed with only two 
vessels. 

As was his custom, Magellan acted quickly. 
He sent a boat with five men under a trusted 
leader to the Victoria, with a letter for her cap- 
tain, Mendoza, asking him to come to the flag- 
ship. Mendoza read the letter and at once 
declined to go or to acknowledge Magellan's 

[ 109] 



Columbus and Magellan 



authority. Upon this the messenger of Magellan 
plunged a knife into Mendoza's heart. A boat 
with fifteen trusty men had meanwhile been 
stealthily sent from the flagship. This boat 
arrived just at the moment when Mendoza fell 
dead upon the deck, and her men, swarming over 
the sides of the Victoria, captured the ship. The 
captain-general now had three ships and the 
mutineers only two. Magellan's ships were 
moved to the entrance of the harbor to prevent 
the escape of the San Antonio and the Conccpcibn. 
As night came on, Magellan became more 
watchful. He feared lest the other ships might 
try to escape in the darkness. He was right in 
his fears, for the San Antonio was seen at mid- 
night moving outward. Magellan's ship at once 
sailed alongside of her and grappled her. 
Magellan's men quickly poured over her sides 
and the San Antonio was won. One vessel, the 
Concepcion, now remained in the hands of the 
mutineers. Quesada, her captain, seeing how 
hopeless was further opposition to Magellan, sur- 
rendered. Punishment quickly followed. Quesada 
was taken ashore and executed. Cartagena was 
left on shore when the vessels sailed and was 

[no] 



Magellan's Expedition 



never heard from again. He probably fell a 
victim to the Indians. The mutiny was over 
and the victory won through the wonderful daring 
of the great captain-general. 

While the fleet was at Port St. Julian, one of 
the natives appeared. He was much larger than 
the Spaniard. He was so tall that the tallest 
Spaniard, as they report, only reached to his waist. 
His face was painted red and yellow. An amus- 
ing incident occurred when a mirror was given to 
him. As he saw his face in it, with a terrific yell 
he jumped backward so violently that he knocked 
down three men. His feet, like those of the other 
natives, were wrapped in skins, for which reason 
Magellan called the people of this country 
Patagonians — the " clumsy-footed " — from the 
Spanish word patagon. 

Magellan now sent the Sa^itiago to cruise along 
the coast to find, if possible, the long-looked-for 
strait. Terrific storms broke over the little vessel, 
and she was cast on the shore a complete wreck. 
Her crew escaped and suffered untold hardships 
in working their way along the coast back to the 
fleet. 

As the time for leaving these winter quarters 

[III] 



Columbus and Magellan 



now drew near, Magellan set up a cross on a high 
hill as a sign that he had taken possession of 
the country in the name of the king of Spain. 
They had been nearly five months at Port St. 
Julian, when the little fleet hoisted sail to con- 
tinue the journey. Two days later they reached 
the mouth of the Santa Cruz river, w^iere they 
anchored. Here they found an abundance of 
fish, wood, and fresh water, and two months were 
spent at this point while waiting for the spring to 
arrive. 

On October i8th, when the spring is well 
advanced in the southern hemisphere, the four 
vessels that now made up the fleet sailed south- 
ward, and three days later Magellan believed that 
he had discovered the long-sought strait that 
would open the way to the great Western ocean 
and the rich Spice islands. To the promontory 
at the entrance they gave the name cape of the 
Virgins. Magellan sent two vessels to explore 
the waters and find if it w^ere really the hoped-for 
strait. After five days the vessels returned, gay 
with flags, and discharging cannon in triumph. 
One of the vessels reported that she had sailed 
westward three days without finding an end to the 










[113] 



Columbus and Magellan 



strait. She said the depth of the water continued 
very great, and that the tide was stronger when it 
flowed to the westward than when it ran to the 
east. 

Cheers of joy greeted these happy tidings. The 
fleet was ordered to enter the strait. To the 
southward smoke arose from numerous fires, and 
Magellan therefore called ' the country Tierra del 
Fuego — the "Land of Fire." Of this part of 
the journey the chronicler, Pigafetta, writes : " In 
the strait we found at every half league a good 
port and place for anchoring ; good water, wood 
of cedar, and fish like sardines, as well as a 
sweet herb [celery]. I think there is not in the 
world a more beautiful country or better strait 
than this one." 

After sailing in the strait for almost a month, 
Magellan called a council of his captains as to 
the future course. All urged him to go on to 
the end, — now that the great prize was within 
their grasp. Estevan Gomez, pilot of the Saii 
Antonio, urged a return to Spain. "The strait 
has been found," he said. " Let us now go home 
and return with a new and larwr flotilla." 
Magellan answered that, even if they were com- 

[114] 



Magellan's Expedition 



pelled to eat the leather on the ship's rigging, 
he would go on and would fulfill his promise to 
the king. He forbade, under pain of death, any 
one to speak of a return to Spain or to complain 
of a lack of provisions. Then, ordering the can- 
non to be discharged, he sailed forward, while 
the echoes of the artillery sounded through the 
strait. 

Gomez, however, did not long defer the pur- 
pose he had in mind. His vessel, the San 
Antonio, of which he was pilot, was sent with 
the Concepcion to explore one of the inlets of 
the strait. With a number of fellow-conspirators, 
he made a prisoner of Mesquita, the captain, and 
taking advantage of the darkness slipped by the 
Concepcion. The San Antonio turned toward 
the east, passed out of the strait, and hurried 
back to Spain, where she arrived. May 6, 1521. 
Gomez told a tale full of falsehoods, — of Magel- 
lan's cruelty and incapacity, and of the failure 
of the expedition. He insinuated that Magellan 
as a Portuguese had deliberately wrecked the 
expedition. The unfortunate captain, Mes- 
quita, was placed in prison, but certain features 
of the story having a rather suspicious appear- 

[115] 



Columbus and Magellan 



ance, Gomez and his accomplices were arrested 
alsoJ 

When the Co7icepci6n returned to Magellan 
without the San Antonio, the captain-general 
would not believe Gomez guilty of such treacher)\ 
He sent vessels back even to the cape of the 
Virgins, and when at last he felt compelled to 
sail onward, he buried letters with large signs 
over them, that the San Antonio might see them 
if she had merely lost her way. There were now- 
only three vessels in the fleet when Magellan at 
length (November 28, 1520) passed out of the 
strait into the great ocean which he named the 
Pacific. This same ocean Balboa, seven years 
before, had named the South sea. It had required 
thirty-eight days to make the passage of the strait, 
a distance of three hundred and twenty miles. As 
they passed out, Magellan ordered artillery to be 
fired, and all shed tears of joy. They gave to 
the point at the western end the name Cabo 
Deseado — the " Longed-for Cape." To the strait 
itself Magellan gave the name Canal de Todos 

' The taithful Mesquita was in fact not released until the return 
in triumph of the Victoria, when the true fiicts became known. Even 



Magellan's wife was watched at this time, lest she attempt to fly to 

[1.6] 



Portugal. 



Magellan's Expedition 



Los Santos (Strait of All Saints), but it is 
now known only by the name of the great dis- 
coverer. 

25. The Passage of the Pacific. The Ladrones. — 
After emerging from the strait, the fleet took a 
northerly course along the west coast of South 
America. After two weeks' sailing, they boldly 
turned to the northwest to explore the unknown 
waste of waters before them. Little did they 
realize the sufferings that awaited them. For 
two months they saw no sight of land. Hunger, 
thirst, and disease, each claimed its victims daily. 

As they sailed on day after day without relief, 
their sufferings became almost unbearable. They 
were compelled to eat biscuit filled with worms, 
and even sawdust was gathered up and devoured. 
The water became putrid, and so scarce that the 
smallest possible amount was given to each per- 
son. Rats even became a great delicacy, but 
" enough of them were not to be got," said one 
member of the expedition. An island was seen 
January 24, but it was uninhabited, and they 
were compelled to push on without securing pro- 
visions or water. After eleven days they saw 
another island, but it had neither food nor water. 



Columbus and Magellan 



They were now reduced to the extremity of eat- 
ing the leather straps of the rigging, which they 
roasted and devoured eagerly. Scurvy broke out, 
caused by mixing salt water with fresh to boil 
their rice. The upper and lower gums of most of 
the men became so swollen that they could not 
eat. No less than nineteen died of this terrible 
disease. " I think," says the chronicler, " that 
never again will men undertake to perform such 
a voyage." It appeared as if the entire expedi- 
tion would perish, as day after day they scanned 
in vain the western horizon for land. 

At last their sufferings came to an end. On 
the 6th of March, ninety-eight days after they 
had last seen inhabited land, they reached the 
islands now called the Ladrones, where they 
secured fresh fruit and water. The quaint chron- 
icler of the expedition says of the people : " They 
are tall and well made, and when they are born 
they are white ; later they become brown. The 
houses are constructed of wood, covered with 
planks and fig leaves. The natives sleep on 
palm straw, which is soft and fine. These people 
have no weapons except sticks which have a fish 
bone at one end. They are poor, and are also 

[ii8] 











Ikj '^ Br I^^^i7 




Hp^^^^ 


P*^ 






Scene in the Ladrones 
[119] 



Columbus and Magellan 



great thieves. Therefore we called these islands 
the Robber (Ladrone) islands." 

This name is commonly applied to them, but 
they are usually called by the Spaniards the 
Mariannes, in honor of Marianna of Austria, 
widow of Philip IV of Spain. Magellan called 
them Islands of the Lateen Sails (Islas de las 
Velas Latinas), from the large number of boats 
of this type that were sailing in these waters. 

26. Discovery of the Philippines. — After secur- 
ing provisions and water, the fleet sailed again 
(March 9, 1521) to the westward, and seven days 
later saw on the horizon a land of surpassing 
beauty. For the first time in the history of the 
world, the eve of a white man rested on the 
islands now known as the Philippines. 

The land before them was Samar, the beautiful 
heavily wooded island which forms part of the 
eastern boundary of the Philippine archipelago. 
Magellan carefully sailed his vessels among the 
shoals and entered the Surigao strait, as it is 
called to-day. He anchored before Malhdn 
island, and set up tents on the shore for the sick. 

Says the chronicler: "Monday, the i8th 
of March, after dinner, we saw a boat come to- 

[120] 



Magellan's Expedition 



ward us with nine men in it ; upon whicli the 
captain-general ordered that no one should move 
or speak without his permission. When they 
had come to our boat, their chief at once sought 
the captain-general, showing great joy at our 
arrival. The captain, seeing the kindly feeling 
of the natives toward us, ordered food and drink 
to be given to them, and he presented them with 
some red caps, looking-glasses, combs, bells, ivory, 
and other thinos. When the natives saw the 
kindness of the captain, they gave us some fish, 
a vessel filled with palm wine, figs more than a 
foot long [bananas], and two cochos [cocoanuts]. 
The captain, to do them greater honor, conducted 
them through the ship and showed them his 
cargo, — cloves, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, nut- 
meg, and all that was in the ship. He also had 
the guns fired, at which they were so much afraid 
that they wished to jump from the ship into the 
sea. We remained here eight days. The cap- 
tain w^ent every day to see the sick men on the 
shore, and he gave them with his own hand the 
milk of the cocoanut, which helped them greatly." 
Magellan named the group of islands the 
Archipelago of St. Lazarus. This name was 

[I2I] 




Philip II of Spain 



[122J 



Magellan's Expedition 



changed in 1542 to the present name, Philippines, 
in honor of Philip II of Spain. 

27. In the Philippines. — On Monday, the 
25th of March, the fleet again sailed. Pass- 
ing by the northern coast of Mindanao they 




Route of Magellan's Fleet in the Philippines 

reached an island, probably the present Limasana, 
directly south of Leyte. With the king of this 
island the Spaniards became very friendly, so 
that his royal highness brought "dishes of fish 
and rice to the captain-general with his own 

[123] 



Columbus and Magellan 



hand. Magellan gave him a Turkish robe of 
red and yellow and a red cap, and the ceremony 
of accepting each other upon terms of brother- 
hood was gone through." This ceremony of 
blood brotherhood consisted in drawing a little 
blood from the arm and sometimes the breast. 
This was drunk as they pledged to each other 
eternal friendship. Magellan told the king of 
the great size of the Pacific. He showed him 
his compass and charts, and explained as best he 
could how the ships were sailed at great distances 
from land. 

After a week's delay Magellan was anxious to 
continue his journey. He asked the name of 
the port where he could best trade his cargo for 
spices and gold, and at the same time secure pro- 
visions for the ships. The king told him the 
best market was Cebu, and offered to pilot him 
there. The little fleet therefore started on its 
way, and sailed northward along Leyte. The 
beautiful shores of Bohol were on the left hand. 
Rounding this island they saw the Camotes is- 
lands to the north, and as they sailed westward 
the mountains of Cebu appeared on the horizon. 
Nearer and nearer drew the fleet to the island 

[124] 




Views of Bohol 



Columbus and Magellan 



that was to prove so fateful a place for many of 
the brave voyagers. 

Passing between Cebu and the little island of 
Mactan, the fleet, gay with bunting and saluting 
with its heavy guns, anchored (Sunday, April 7, 
1 521) opposite the site where now stands the 
flourishing city of Cebu, with its great hemp 
market and its harbor, busy with shipping. It 
was a beautiful sight that greeted the voyagers. 
Before them they saw the fertile island of Cebu, 
with the heavily wooded mountains stretching 
backward from the coast till their crests were 
enveloped in the clouds. 

The natives were greatly frightened at the report 
of the cannon and the appearance of the strange 
vessels. The interpreter was sent ashore, how- 
ever, to assure them that Magellan desired only 
their friendship, and was anxious to secure provi- 
sions for the ships. 

The interpreter told the king that his master 

was captain under the greatest king in the world, 

and was on his way to discover the Moluccas. 

However, as Magellan had heard so often of the 

kindness and courtesy of the king of Cebu, they 

desired to visit him and to secure provisions. 

[126] 




Scenes in Cebu 
[ 127] 



Columbus and Magellan 



The kino^ answered that the visitors were wel- 
come, but it was the custom for all boats arriving 
at his country to pay him tribute. 

The interpreter said that his captain, as the rep- 
resentative of so g^reat a monarch as the kino^ of 
Spain, would not pay tribute to any sovereign in 
the world, and that if the king of Cebu wished 
peace he could have peace, but if he wished for 
war, he could have war. 

The king asked if the captain desired tribute 
for his emperor, and the interpreter answered, 
" No ! simply trade." The king now took counsel 
with a Moro who had traded in Indian ports. He 
told the king of the power of Spain, and advised 
a treaty of peace. The king thereupon answered 
the interpreter that he wished peace and friend- 
ship with his captain. Drawing a little blood from 
his arm he sent it to Magellan. The captain- 
general Magellan now rowed ashore and met the 
king " who sat on a mat with his people around 
him. He was small and fat and quite naked, with 
only a loin cloth and headpiece of cloth. Heavy 
chains hung around his neck, and gold earrings 
with precious stones in them hung from his ears." 

Magellan gave the king a robe of yellow and 

[12S] 



Magellan's Expedition 



violet silk, a red cap, a silver dish, and two 

gilt glasses, while the king gave the Spaniards 

baskets of rice, as well as goats, fowl, and pigs. 

They granted to the Spaniards the sole right to 

trade in the kingdom. Magellan now called a 

council of the neighboring chiefs and ordered 

them to swear allegiance to his new ally — the 

king of Cebu. 

28. Death of Magellan. — On the island of 

Mactan, across the narrow strait from Cebu, lived 

a king who swore allegiance to the king of Cebu, 

but promptly repented of his act. He wished, 

he said, to be on terms of friendship with the 

Spaniards, and to prove it sent them presents ; 

but he was not willing to become a subject to 

strangers or to the king of Cebu. Magellan 

felt it to be necessary to show these petty kings 

the power of the Spanish monarch, and at once 

prepared to invade the island of Mactan. With 

sixty Spaniards and one thousand natives under 

the king of Cebu, Magellan started not long after 

midnight, and at daybreak (April 27, 1521) was 

ready for the battle. A message was sent to the 

enemy, saying that they would be forgiven if they 

sent supplies and acknowledged the authority 

[129] 



><. 




Statue to Magellan 



Magellan's Expedition 



of the captain. Otherwise they would soon learn 
how severe were the wounds the Spanish lances 
could inflict. 

The king of Mactan boldly answered that they 
too had lances. The day was now breaking, and 
preparations were made for battle. Magellan re- 
quested the king of Cebu to keep his men in the 
boats, that the Spaniards might show them how 
to fight. The reefs prevented the boats from 
reaching the coast, so the Spaniards, to the num- 
ber of forty-eight, waded ashore. They were at 
once vigorously attacked by thousands of natives. 
The Spaniards fought with heroic bravery, but 
they were surrounded on all sides. Magellan, 
seeing the battle going against him, ordered a 
retreat. The men tried to reach the boats by 
wading. The natives now grew stronger in 
numbers every minute. 

The chronicler, who fought by the side of 
Magellan, tells the rest of the mournful story : 
" Thus we fought for more than an hour, until 
an Indian succeeded in thrusting a cane lance 
into the captain's face. In irritation Magellan 
pierced the Indian's breast with his lance and left 
it in his body. He then tried to use his sword, 



Columbus and Magellan 



but could only draw it halfway, on account of a 
javelin wound in his right arm. The enemies, 
seeing this, all rushed against him, and one of 
them with a great weapon gave him a blow on 
the left leg, which brought the captain down on 
his face. Thereupon the Indians threw them- 
selves upon him and ran him through with lances 
and scimeters and the other weapons which they 
had, so that they deprived of life, our mirror, our 
light, comfort, and true guide." 

It was a mournful retreat to Cebu for the 
Spaniards. They sent a messenger to the king 
of Mactan, offering a large reward for the body 
of Magellan, but he refused to deliver it up, and 
it was never recovered. To-day a monument 
marks the supposed spot where the great captain 
laid down his life. 

The defeat of the Spaniards immediately led 
to a change of feeling on the part of the king of 
Cebu, and he planned, by an act of the basest 
treachery, to destroy them, and to secure their 
ships and treasures. On a pretense of presenting 
gifts to the king of Spain, he invited the Span- 
iards to a banquet on the shore. Scarcely had the 
twenty-seven Spaniards reached the town when 

[132] 



Magellan's Expedition 



they were surrounded, attacked, and killed. Not 
a survivor was left to tell the tale of the massacre. 

The remaining Spaniards, one hundred and 
fifteen in number, decided to sail away at once. 
As their numbers were too few to manage with 
safety three ships, the cargo of the Concepcion 
was removed, and she was burned off the shore of 
Bohol. 

Sadness reigned over the little ships that now 
sailed to the southward. Of the five vessels that 
sailed so gayly from Seville only two, the Victoria 
and the Trinidad, now remained. Of the two 
hundred and seventy sailors who had gone forth 
with high hopes for fame and fortune, only one 
hundred and fifteen were left. Yet there was 
nothing for the survivors to do but to push 
onward. Passing Cebu they came in sight of 
the southern end of the island of Negros, where 
Dumaguete now stands, with its quaint Santa 
Catalina tower erected as a lookout against the 
invading Moros. On their left the voyagers saw 
the wooded island of Sequijor, and directly before 
them they discovered on the horizon the outlines 
of Mindanao. Here they made a brief visit. 

The expedition was sadly in need of provisions, 




1^ 



■S 






[^34] 



Magellan's Expedition 



so they steered westward until they reached the 
island of Paragua or Palawan, as it is sometimes 
called. Here a generous supply of provisions 
was secured. It was late in June when the fleet 
was headed toward Borneo, and a few days later 
anchored in the harbor of Brunei, where they 
saw the houses built on piles over the water. 
After a month spent here, the fleet returned along 
the coast of Borneo and anchored near Banguey 
island, in the Balabac strait that separates North 
Borneo from Paragua of the Philippine group. 

The vessels were badly in need of repairs, 
and six weeks were spent in fitting them out. 
Espiiiosa was now captain of the Trinidad 
and commander-in-chief of the expedition, while 
Sebastian del Cano, who had taken part in the 
mutiny against Magellan, commanded the Victoria. 
The two vessels sailed eastward (September 27, 
1 521) and were again off the coast of Mindanao. 
Turning southward they passed through Basilan 
strait before the site of the present city of Zam- 
boanga, and entering the great bay, skirted the 
shores of the island of Mindanao. 

29. The Spice Islands. — The expedition was 
now rapidly approaching its long-looked-for goal. 

[135] 




[136] 



Magellan's Expedition 



Directly south were the Moluccas, — the Spice 
islands, — and early in November they made out 
the outlines of the much-desired land. 

Amid great rejoicing, the waving of banners, 
and the deafening report of artillery the boats 




The Philippines and Spice Islands 



came to anchor (November 8, 152 1) at Tidor. 
After the usual greetings with the king of the 
island, the Spaniards secured their cargo of 
cloves, and were ready for the homeward journey. 

[137] 



Columbus and Magellan 



They had found the strait from the Atlantic to 
the Pacific ; they had traversed that great ocean ; 
they had discovered the PhiHppines ; they had 
found the Spice islands by a westward route ; and 
now all were anxious to see once more the fair 
hills of Spain. 

On Wednesday, the iSth of December, the sails 
were hoisted, when alas ! the Trinidad was found 
to be leaking. In vain they tried to find the leak, 
and it was finally decided after a council had 
been held to send the Victoria alone back to 
Spain. The Trinidad, when fit to sail, was to 
go to Panama with her crew of fifty-three. 

On the Victoria were forty-seven men. With 
these she sailed (December 21, 1521), after her 
crew had taken affectionate leave of their com- 
rades on the Trinidad who had braved so many 
perils with them. Few of these gallant men were 
ever to meet again. Passing Euro island and 
crossing the Banda sea, the Victoria touched at 
some of the Sunda group. Her last stopping 
place in the Orient was Timor, where she secured 
provisions. 

It was early in February, 1522, when she 
started on the last stage of her momentous 



[138] 



Magellan's Expedition 



journey. More than three months elapsed before 
they sighted the cape of Good Hope. Lack of 
food and water had swept off many of her crew. 
The Cape Verde islands were reached July 9. 
The Portuguese discovered in some way the 
fact that the cargo was of cloves, and seized the 
thirteen men who were ashore at the time. 
Seeing the danger he was in, Sebastian del 
Cano raised the anchors of the Victoria, and 
although pursued, she escaped in safety. On 
Monday, the 8th of September, 1522, the Victoria 
reached Seville. Only eighteen men remained 
of all that had started three years before. 

The welcome extended to the voyagers was 
princely indeed. With the booming of cannon 
and the cheers of the multitude the little band 
did not forget the vows they had made in moments 
of danger. On the day of their arrival they went 
in procession with tapers to the church of Santa 
Mari'a de la Victoria, where they offered up 
thanksgiving for the safe return from their peril- 
ous voyage. King Charles invited them to the 
court at Valladolid. The thirteen men seized by 
the Portuguese had been quickly released, and 
they now joined their comrades in the trip to 

[ 139] 



Columbus and Magellan 



the court, where the wonderful story of their voy- 
age was told. 

Sebastian del Cano was given an annual pension 
and a coat of arms. The crest was a globe bear- 
ing; the words Priintis circumdedisti me — " You 
first sailed around me." 

30. Settlement of the Philippines. — Twenty 
years passed before the first expedition was sent 
to take possession of the islands which Magellan 
had discovered. The leader of this expedition 
was Villalobos. He sailed from Mexico, as the 
new-found islands had been placed under the rule 
of the Viceroy of Mexico. No important result 
came from this voyage of Villalobos except the 
naming of one of the islands Filipina, in honor of 
Prince Philip (afterwards Philip II) of Spain. The 
name Philippines (Filipinas in Spanish) was later 
given by Legaspi to the entire group, and took the 
place of the name Archipelago of St. Lazarus, 
which had been given by Magellan. 

In 1564 Legaspi was sent with four ships and 
four hundred men to found permanent settlements 
in the islands. He had with him five members 
of the Augustinian order. Among them was 
Fray Urdaneta. This zealous priest in his youth 

[140] 




Legaspi and Urdaneta 
[mi] 



Columbus and Magellan 



had been a soldier in the Orient, and now came 
to preach the truths of the Christian Faith to the 
natives of these islands. 

Legaspi visited Mindanao and some of the 
Visayan islands, especially Leyte and Bohol. 




The Royal Gate of Manila 

He arrived (April 27, 1565) at the island of Cebu, 
where he founded a city. This city, under its 
later name of Cebu, rose to be one of the greatest 
ports of the entire archipelago. 

Legaspi sent his grandson Salcedo to explore 
the lands to the north. Luzon was visited, and 

[142] 




^ 
3 



■^ 






[143] 



Columbus and Magellan 



Salcedo reached a great bay where he found 
flourishinor native settlements at the mouth of a 
swiftly flowing river. This river was the Pasig, 
and here, in 1571, Legaspi founded the great 
city of Manila, which became the capital of the 
islands. 

The work done by Legaspi was marvelous. 
He drove back the Portuguese, who came up from 
the Moluccas to dispute the right of Spain in the 
PhiHppines. He prevented the onward march 
of the Mohammedans, who had spread over the 
southern islands, and were slowly but surely gain- 
ing control- of the entire archipelago. 

The great energy of Legaspi laid in the islands 
the foundation of the rule of Spain, which lasted 
for almost four centuries, until the treaty of peace 
with the United States was signed at Paris, De- 
cember 10, 1898. 






fm^ 




?^s^ 



.'v-'ifl.-::;^ >y;^fz 






[144] 



PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY 



Key : ale, at, care, iirm, final, all ; eve, end, her, recent ; ice, ill, 
admiral ; old, on, for, anchor ; use, up, fur, awful ; food, foot ; ch as 
in chop ; g as in go ; ng as in sing ; n as in ink ; th as in thin ; u as 
ny in canyon ; oi as in oil ; ow as in cow. 



Africa (af'ri ka). 
Alhambra (al ham'bra). 
Almeida (al ma'e da). 
Andalusia (an da loo the'a). 
Andes (an'dez). 
Antilla (an til'la). 
Antilles (antil'lez). 
Arabia (ara'bi a). 
Argentine (ar'jentin). 
Atahualpa (a ta hwal'pa). 
Azores (azorz'). 
Aztecs (az'tex). 

Bahamas (baha'mas). 
Balabac (balabac'). 
Balboa (bal bo'a). 
Banda (ban'da). 
Banguez (ban gath'). 
Barcelona (barselo'na). 
Basilan (base'lan). 
Bermudez (ber mu'deth). 
Bohol (bo hoi'). 
Bojador (bo ha dgr'). 
Borinqu^n (bo ren ken'). 
Borneo (bor'ne o). 
Brazil (brazil'). 



Brunei (broona'e). 
Buenos Ayres (bwa'nosi'res). 
Burgos (boor'gos). 
Buro (bu'ro). 

Cabo Deseado (ka'bo da sa ah'do). 

Cabot (kab'ot). 

Cabral (kii bral'). 

Calicut (ca'licut). 

Camotes (kamo'tes). 

Canal de Todos Los Santos (ka- 

nal' da to'dos los san'tos). 
Cape Verde (verd). 
Caribbean (kar ib be'an). 
Cartagena (ka ta ha'na). 
Castile (kas tel'). 
Catalonia (ka ta 16'ne a). 
Cebu (.se boo'). 
Chile (che'la). 
China (chi'na). 
Christinas (kris'mas). 
Cochos (ko'chos). 
Columbus (kolum'biis). 
Concepci6n (kon sep si on'). 
Constantinople (kon stan ti no'pl). 
Cordova (kor'ddva). 

[145] 



Pronouncing Vocabulary 



Cortfis (k6r tas'). 

Cuba (ku'ba). 

Cubanacan (kubana'kan). 

Darien (da'reen). 

December (de sem'ber). 

Dfaz (de'jiz). 

Diego (de a'go). 

Dom Manoel (domman wel'). 

Don Juan (donhwan'). 

Duuiaguete (doo maga'te). 

Ecuador (ekwador'). 
Egypt (e'jipt). 
Espailola (es pan yo'la). 
Espinosa (es pen yo' sa). 
Estevan (esta'van). 
Europe (u'rop). 

February (feb'ruary), 
Fernandina (fer nan de'na). 
Florida (flor' Ida). 
Fonseca (fonsa'ka). 
France (frans). 

Genoa (jen'o a). 
Gomez (go'mez). 
Granada (grana'da). 
Guadalquivir (gwa dal ke ver'). 
Guanahani (gwiina ha'ne). 
Guatemala (gwa tama'la). 

Haiti (ha'tl). 
Hamaca (hama'ka). 
Hernando (Prnau'do). 
Hindustan (Inndoo'stan'). 
Honduras (hon doo'ras). 



Inca (Tn'ka). 

India (in'di a). 

Indian (in'di an). 

Isabella (Is a bel'la). 

Islas de les Velas Latinas (is'las 

da liis va'las la ti'nas). 
Italian (i tal'yan), 

Jamaica (jama'ka). 

Juana (hwii'na). 

Juan Dfaz de Solis (hwan' de'az 

da so'lis). 
Juan Perez (hwan' pa'reth). 

Khan (kan). 

Ladrones (ladron'es). 
La Navidad (la na vi dad')- 
Lazarus (la'zarus). 
Legaspi (le gas'pi). 
Le6n (la on'). 
Leyte (la'e ta). 
Lima (le'nia). 
Limasana (le ma sa'na). 
Lisbon (ITz'bon). 
Luz6n (loo son'). 

Mactan (mak tiin'). 

Madeira (made'ra). 

Magellan (majel'an). 

Malakka (malak'a). 

Malh6n (miil hon'). 

Manila (mani'la). 

Marchena (marcha'na). 

Mariannes (ma re an'nes). 

Mediterranean (med i ter ra'ne an). 

Mesquita (meske'ta). 

Mexicans (meks'i kans). 

[146] 



Pronouncing Vocabulary 



Mexico (meks'iko). 
Mindanao (mendauii'o). 
Mohammed (mo liam'med). 
Moluccas (moliik'az). 
Montezuma (m5n te zoo'raa). 
Morocco (morok'o). 

Natal (na tal') 
Negros (na'gros). 
Nicaragua (ne ka ra'gwa) . 
Nina (nen'ya). 

Orinoco (orino'ko). 

Pacific (pasif'ik). 

Palawan (palafwan). 

Palos (pa'los). 

Panama (piln a ma'). 

Paragua (pii ra'gwa) . 

Pascua Florida (pas kwa flo re'da) 

Pasig (pasTg')- 

Patag6n (pat a gon') . 

Patagonians (pat ago'nians). 

Pernambuco (per nam boo'ko). 

Persia (per'shT a). 

Peru (pe roo'). 

Philippines (fil'ipins). 

Pigafetta (pegafet'ta). 

Pinta (pen'ta). 

Pinz6n (pen thon'). 

Pizarro (pi thar'6). 

Ponce de Le6n (pon'tha da la on'). 

Porto Rico (por'to re'ko). 

Portugal (por'tiigal). 

Portuguese (por'tiigez). 



Quesada (kasa'da). 



[I 



Rio de Janeiro (re'o da ja na'e ro). 
Rio de la Plata (re'o da la pla'ta). 
Ruy Faleiro (roo'e fala'ero). 

Saint Augustine (sant a'gus ten). 

Salamanca (salaraan'ca). 

Salcedo (salsa'do). 

Samar (sii'mar'). 

San Antonio (san anto'n! 6). 

San Juan Bautista (san hwan 

bow tis'ta). 
San Lucar de Barrameda (san lob- 

kar' da ba ra ma'da). 
San Salvador (san Salvador'). 
Santa Catalina (san'ta cat a li'na). 
Santa Lucia (san'ta loo se'a). 
Santa Maria de la Victoria (san'ta 

ma re'a da la vie to're a). 
Santiago (siin te a'go). 
Santo Domingo (san'to do min'go). 
Santos (san't5s). 
Sargasso (sargas'so). 
Sebastian del Cano (sa bas ti an' 

del ka'no). 
Serrao (sar li'o). 
Seville (sa vil'ya). 
Siquijor (se ke hor'). 
Spain (span). 
Spaniard (span'yerd). 
Sumatra (sooma'tra). 
Sunda (sun'da). 

Tagus (ta'gus). 

Te Deum (te de'um). 

Tenerife (tener rif). 

Tidor (te dor'). 

Tierra del Fuego (te a'rii del f wa'- 

go). 

47] 



Pronouncing Vocabulary 



Timor (te m5r'). 
Tinto (teii'to). 
Tlascalans (tlaska'lans). 
Toledo (tola'do). 
Toscanelli (tos kji nel'e). 
Triuidad (triii idad'). 

Urdaneta (oorda na'ta). 

Vasco da Gama (vas'ko da ga'ma). 
Venice (veu'Is). 



Vera Cruz (va'ra kroos'). 
Verrazano (va ra tsa'no) . 
Vespuccius (vespti'slius). 
Victoria (vik to're a). 

Watling (wot'ling). 

Yucatan (yoo ka tan'). 

Zamboanga (zam bo an'ga). 



[148] 



INDEX 



Almeida, expedition of, 94. 
America, discovery of, 49. 
Andalusia, Columbus's journey to, 26. 
Antilla, mythical island of, 21. 
Atahualpa, ruler of Peru, 87. 
Augustinians, arrival of, in Philip- 
pines, 140. 
Aztecs, the, 73-81. 

Balboa discovers the Pacific, 69. 
Bananas first eaten by Europeans, 

121. 
Banda sea, 138. 
Bohol island, Magellan rounds, 124. 

visited by Legaspi, 142. 
Borinquen, 67. 
Borneo exports camphor, 12. 

Magellan at, 135. 
Brazil discovered, 9I. 
Brunei, Magellan at, 135. 
Euro island, 138. 

Cabot, 20. 

Cabral, the voyage of, 91-93. 

Calicut, description of, 10. 

Camotes islands, 124. 

Canary islands, Columbus at, 42. 

Magellan at, 102. 
Cape Bojador, 4. 

Cape of Good Hope discovered, 6. 
Cape St. Augustine discovered, 103. 
Cartagena, captain under Magellan, 

108. 
Catalonia, 19. 

[I 



Cebd, visited by Magellan, 124. 

treachery of king of, 132. 

visited by Legaspi, 142. 
Charles I of Spain aids Magellan, 99. 
Cocoanuts first eaten by Europeans, 

121. 
Columbus, birthplace of, 17. 

arrives in Portugal, 20. 

presents plans to king of Portu- 
gal, 24. 

arrives in Spain, 26. 

at La Rabida, 26. 

terms of, accepted, 35. 

sails from Palos, 42. 

the great voyage of, 42-50. 

discovers America, 50. 

reception at Barcelona, 65. 

later voyages of, 67. 
Constantinople taken by Turks, 15. 
Cortes reaches Vera Cruz, 73. 

conquers Mexico, 81. 
Cuba discovered, 52. 

name of, 52. 

Da Gama reaches India, 10, 

Diaz, Bartholomew, discovers cape 

of Good Hope, 6. 
Diaz de Solis, Juan, 105. 
Diego, son of Columbus, 26, 28, 39. 
Division of the world, 89. 
Dom Manoel, king of Portugal, 7, 

96, 100. 
Dumaguete, Philippine settlement, 

133- 
49] 



Index 



England, Columbus journeys to, 20. 
Espaflola or Haiti discovered, 58. 

Faleiro, Ruy, map-maker, 99. 
P'lorida discovered, 68. 

name of, 68. 
Fonseca, Bishop, favors Magellan, 
99- 

Genoa loses trade of Orient, 15. 
Gomez, treachery of, 115. 
Granada, fall of, 35. 
Guanahani, 52. 

Haiti or Espaiiola discovered, 58. 
Henry, Prince, of Portugal, 1-6. 
Honduras, coast of, discovered, 67. 

Iceland visited by Columbus, 20. 
India reached by Vasco da Gama, 

10. 
Isabella aids Columbus, 38. 

Jamaica discovered, 67. 
Juana or Cuba discovered, 52. 



Ladrone islands, 118, 120. 
Leeward islands visited by Colum 

bus, 67. 
Legaspi, expedition of, 140. 

reaches Cebii, 142. 

founds Manila, 144. 
Leyte island, 123, 142. 
Limasana island, 123. 
Line of Demarcation, 91, 92. 



Mactan, island of, 126. 

battle of, 131. 
Madeira islands, 20. 
Magellan, birthplace of, 94. 

serves in Orient, 96. 



leaves Portugal, 98. 

arrives in Spain, 98. 

starts on voyage, lOl. 

quells mutiny, 109. 

discovers the strait, 112. 

discovers the Ladrones, 1 1 7. 

discovers the Philippines, 120. 

reaches Cebu, 124. 

killed at Mactan, 132. 
Malacca, strait of, 96. 
Malhon island, 120. 
Manila, city of, founded, 144. 
Marchena assists Columbus, 26. 
Marco Pulo, 23. 

Mendoza sails with Magellan, 108. 
Mesquita sails with Magellan, 

loS. 
Mexico, city of, 81. 
Mindanao, island of, 123, 142. 
Moluccas or Spice islands, exports 
of, 10. 

reached, 137. 
Montezuma, 73, 75, 77, 79. 

Negros, island of, 133. 

Orinoco, mouth of, discovered, 67. 



Panama, coast of, explored, 67. 
Paragua, island of, 135. 
Pasig river, 144. 
Perez assists Columbus, 35, 36. 
Pernambuco, city of, 103. 
Peru, conquest of, 81-89. 
Philippines discovered by Magellan, 
120. 

name of, 123. 

settlement of, 140. 
Pigafetta, the chronicler, 114. 
Pinzon aids Columbus, 49. 
Pizarro conquers Peru, 81. 

[150] 



Index 



Ponce de Leon discovers Florida, 68. 

governor of Porto Rico, 68. 
Port St. Julian, 107, 112. 
Porto Rico discovered, 67. 
Portugal, under Spanish rule, 12. 

Columbus arrives in, 20. 

secures Brazil, 92. 

Magellan leaves, 98. 

Rio de Janeiro bay, Magellan ex- 
plores, 103. 

Ri'o de la Plata reached by Magellan, 
105. 

Roderick, king of the Goths, 21. 

St. Lazarus, archipelago of, 121, 140. 

Salamanca, university of, 31. 

Salcedo explores Luzon, 142. 

Samar island, 120. 

San Salvador, 52. 

Santa Cruz river, 112. 

Sargasso sea, 45. 

Sebastian del Cano reaches Seville, 

139- 
Sequijor, island of, 133. 



Southern Cross, 9. 
Spice islands reached, 137. 
Strait of Magellan, 112. 
Strait of Malacca, 96. 
Sumatra, exports of, 12. 
Sunda islands, 138. 
Surigao strait, 120. . 

Tenerife, volcano of, 42, 102. 
Tierra del Fuego named by Magel- 
lan, 114. 
Timor, 12, 138. 
Tlascalans oppose Cortes, 77. 

assist Cortes, 77. 
Tobacco first seen by Europeans, 57. 
Toscanelli, 21. 

Urdaneta and Legaspi, 140. 

Venice loses trade of East, 15. 
Verrazano, 20. 
Vespucius, 20. 

Victoria, the, reaches Seville, 139. 
Villalobos, 140. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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